This master's thesis analyses the social reporting practices of listed companies in the context of new regulatory requirements, in particular the ESRS. The thesis examines the extent to which DAX 40 companies fulfil the ESRS requirements regarding social reporting in their sustainability and annual reports. This is of great relevance as the CSRD introduces stricter requirements for sustainability reporting. The obligation to apply the ESRS means that companies are expected to comprehensively report not only environmental and governance aspects, but also social factors. Methodologically, the work is initially based on a literature review to ascertain the current state of research, followed by a qualitative analysis and an analysis of the scope of the annual and sustainability reports of the companies listed in the DAX 40. The extent to which the content of these reports complies with the requirements of the ESRS, which are mandatory for financial years starting from 1st January 2024, is examined. Additionally, the reports are checked for the use of other frameworks such as GRI and SASB. The results of the empirical analysis show that in 2023, two of the DAX 40 companies stated that they had used the ESRS for their reporting. The GRI is most frequently used for reporting by 87% of companies. Many companies already report on social aspects to a considerable extent, but there are significant differences in the quality and scope of reporting. The empirical results indicate that particularly the scope and quality of reporting on employee concerns are outstanding. Social aspects relating to the company's own workforce are addressed by all the companies analyzed, with comprehensive disclosure of diversity and occupational safety measures. Nevertheless, reporting on social aspects in the value chain, the affected communities as well as consumers and end users remains incomplete, which indicates potential for improvement. It is also evident that some companies, particularly in the healthcare and automotive sectors, report more comprehensively on social aspects, reflecting the direct impact of these industries on consumers and their increased transparency requirements. Compared to the previous year, there has been a positive trend towards more detailed and comprehensive reporting, driven by the increasing pressure of regulatory requirements and increased stakeholder interest in non-financial information. In conclusion, the results of the work show that the upcoming full implementation of the ESRS represents a significant challenge for many companies, but also offers an important opportunity to communicate their social responsibility to stakeholders more effectively and thus strengthen trust in their efforts toward social sustainability.
Berichterstattung zu sozialer Nachhaltigkeit am Prüfstand – Herausforderung oder gängige Praxis für börsennotierte Unternehmen
Rehberger, M. (Author). 2024
Student thesis: Master's Thesis