"A slap in the face for every rail customer": how the press commented on the controversial rail bonuses

Press review - "A slap in the face for every rail customer": how the press commented on the controversial rail bonuses

Despite missing targets, particularly in terms of punctuality and customer satisfaction, Deutsche Bahn (DB) wants to pay its board members bonuses worth millions for 2022. As reported by NDR, WDR and "Süddeutsche Zeitung", other overachieved targets, such as the number of women in management positions, are to be weighted more heavily when calculating the bonuses. In total, bonuses of five million euros in addition to the basic salary of around four million euros are planned for the nine members of the Management Board in 2022.

There has been criticism from politicians. Green Party leader Ricarda Lang believes the bonus payments are simply inappropriate and unfair. "The bonuses at Deutsche Bahn may be legally legitimate, but I believe they have absolutely nothing to do with justice," said Lang. SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil recommends that the board members forgo the payments in the millions. "Even if everything is clearly regulated in contracts and criteria are now being met, those responsible at Deutsche Bahn have to ask themselves whether this is the right signal," Klingbeil told the program "RTL Direkt".

The comment columns of German daily and weekly newspapers are also not holding back with their incomprehension about Deutsche Bahn's decision. An overview.

The press comments on the controversial rail bonuses

Freie Presse (Chemnitz): "These bonuses are like a slap in the face for every rail customer and anyone who points the finger at the supposedly greedy managers is hitting the wrong people. Deutsche Bahn is in crisis and needs capable staff, especially at the top - and that costs money. It is the Supervisory Board that determines remuneration and bonuses. It includes representatives of the trade unions and the German government. If this body has so far been more concerned with achieving "personal goals" than the actual task at hand, it should come as no surprise that such bonuses are paid."

"Märkische Oderzeitung" (Frankfurt an der Oder): A punctuality rate on long-distance services of 52 percent, higher prices for customers, roadworks everywhere. The top managers are supposed to receive almost five million euros in bonuses for this? The system is to blame. The bonus model provides for a form of compensation. Missed targets can be compensated for by overfulfilled targets. This means that in 2022, for example, the members of the Management Board have brought more women into management positions and achieved higher employee satisfaction than targeted. At the same time, however, the targets for customer satisfaction and punctuality were clearly missed. It would make more sense to place the targets of punctuality and customer satisfaction at the center of the bonus payout for all Management Board members.

"Mitteldeutsche Zeitung" (Halle): It was known that rail boss Richard Lutz would receive an additional 1.3 million euros for 2022. The fact that unpunctual trains and subterranean customer satisfaction did not affect this is new: Lutz will receive the lion's share of his bonus retroactively for the fact that the Group has met or exceeded the key figures for CO2 savings, employee satisfaction and the proportion of female managers. Train drivers' union boss Claus Weselsky will feel vindicated: He's been criticizing the bonus scandal for years - the calculation tricks give him new rhetorical ammunition in the wage dispute.

"Spiegel": It would be going too far to call for the dismissal of the railroad board in the style of Germany's riot unionist Claus Weselsky. But if CEO Lutz and his colleagues really do have their bonuses paid out, the Republic should at least think carefully about whether it really wants to place its expensive railroads in the hands of self-righteous managers. Or would it not be better to put an end to this tragic comedy?

"Different standards should apply to a state-owned company"

"Straubinger Tagblatt/Landshuter Zeitung": You fail at your job, but still get more money? Welcome to the land of milk and honey, welcome to Deutsche Bahn. We're not talking about the train drivers who are demanding 500 euros more pay, but their bosses on the boardroom floor. They are now to receive their bonus for 2022, amounting to five million euros. Incidentally, ticket prices were increased on December 10 and every second train is delayed.

"Süddeutsche Zeitung": (...) [T]o Deutsche Bahn's credit, there is someone who doesn't avoid trouble. Berthold Huber, who has been head of the network for almost a year and a half, has told the federal government in no uncertain terms how the railroads are doing: "Too full, too old, too broken." We need many more managers of this caliber. Such people are not cheap, but they are urgently needed. Especially in a state-owned company, which should be managed no worse than a private company. If the head of the railroads continues to receive less money than the lowest-paid board member at BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen, we should not be surprised at the consequences.

"Südkurier" (Constance): You have to give Deutsche Bahn credit for one thing: the creativity that the company shows in glossing over and concealing its own mistakes is remarkable. Despite dissatisfied customers and even more delays, the Executive Board believes it is on the right track because, for example, the proportion of women in management positions has increased and the climate targets have just been achieved. And the bonuses for the members of the Executive Board are justified with acrobatic calculation exercises that lack any personal responsibility. (...) [F]or a state-owned company that is repeatedly subsidized with billions in taxpayers' money, different standards should apply.