This master's thesis examines the current status of ESRS implementation in the area of social reporting by listed companies in German-speaking countries. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the extent to which companies are already applying and reporting on the ESRS social standards S1 to S4, and the quality of their reporting. The first part of the thesis is devoted to the legal framework of sustainability reporting and highlights the relevant legal developments as well as the current implementation plan, which is characterized by a number of regulatory changes. Methodologically, the thesis is based on a comprehensive literature review that captures the current state of scientific discussion and provides a basis for empirical analysis. The empirical part evaluates the sustainability reports of companies from the ATX-20, DAX40, and EUROSTOXX-50 indices for the 2024 fiscal year. For this purpose, a qualitative content analysis according to Mayring is carried out to systematically record and evaluate the reports. In addition, a scoring model is developed that makes the quality of social reporting measurable. The scope of sustainability reporting, the degree of reporting in relation to the ESRS S used, and the quality of content are evaluated using weighted criteria for each social standard. The analysis is carried out both at the overall company level and in comparison across industries, countries, and indices. The results paint a heterogeneous picture of the implementation status. The scope of reporting on social issues varies considerably. While some companies devote up to 120 pages to this topic, others are content with just five pages. With regard to the social standards covered, it is apparent that although all 60 companies examined report on ESRS S1 “Own Workforce,” only 31 companies provide information on ESRS S3 “Affected Communities.” In some cases, companies limit themselves exclusively to ESRS S1 and declare the other social standards to be non-material. The quality evaluation also shows significant differences. While Allianz SE achieves the highest overall weighting at 96.13%, Deutsche Börse AG comes in last at 21.94%. It is also striking that companies from Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands are overall leaders in social sustainability reporting. In summary, the results illustrate that the holistic implementation of the ESRS continues to pose a challenge for companies. Nevertheless, the standards offer the opportunity to systematically anchor social responsibility and communicate it transparently. However, it remains to be seen whether the planned regulatory measures, such as the Omnibus Initiative or the “Stop the Clock” directive, will promote full implementation.
- Controlling, Accounting and Financial Management
Erste Befunde zur Qualität der Sozialberichterstattung nach CSRD im Lagebericht von börsennotierten Unternehmen im deutschsprachigen Raum: Eine Bewertung anhand eines Scoring-Modells
Hochreiter, J. (Author). 2025
Student thesis: Master's Thesis