Our Guidelines

The world belongs to those companies who trust their employees’ ability to take responsibility for their own lives, their skills and expertise, their co-operation and readiness to learn new skills.

The value of lifelong employability grows from the determination to take responsibility for the future in one’s own hands. We as a company provide people with this opportunity.

This is a shift of paradigm focussing on the knowledge and skills of individuals. Individuals have a sustained effect on the value of a company and its success. They reflect the ability of a company to solve problems and master the future. The value of an employment relationship increases with its prospects for the future. This is where workholder value is supplemented by shareholder value.

The image of the multi-qualified, co-shaping, mobile and humane employee is significant in the way it makes its contribution toward the company being able to increase its earning power and growth in value as well as coping with constantly changing challenges of competition.

Volkswagen corporate culture focuses not only on the individual but also on achieving sustainable economic and social targets, for corporate social responsibility. The "declaration on the social rights and industrial relationships" expresses our understanding of global social responsibility based on minimum standards.

At Volkswagen this culture also includes the spirit of constructive and co-operative understanding between the works council and corporate management. At an early stage and without being compelled by legislation, we formed a European and World Works Council. We do not stay rooted in the tradition of conventional co-determination, we also discuss the future development of our company with our employees’ representatives. This is the path forward from co-determination to co-responsibility.