ARD Radio Feature Examines Telekom's Job Cuts and Burnout

Cologne – November 08, 2026 -- A new ARD radio feature, available in ARD Sounds and on nine regional stations from November 5 to 10, 2026, examines how Deutsche Telekom's record profits have affected its workforce in Germany.

Telekom's German workforce has shrunk from 230,000 to about 71,000

Since its privatization in 1995, Telekom has cut well over 100,000 jobs in Germany alone. Revenues and profits have risen as the company has expanded its business abroad. The feature, titled "Hinter der Magenta-Fassade: Die Telekom zwischen Rekordgewinn, Stellenabbau und Erschöpfung" (Behind the Magenta Facade), looks at what that shift has meant for employees.

Remaining staff report overload and burnout

According to the feature, the company is trying to motivate more employees in Germany to leave. Many of those who remain suffer from overload and burnout. Telekom is also moving jobs on a large scale to other European countries and, increasingly, to India. Employment in India is not secure either: when a subsidiary offers qualified staff at lower salaries, work generally moves there, because cost is the deciding factor for the group's leadership.

Journalist Charly Kowalczyk spoke with insiders and whistleblowers

Author Charly Kowalczyk, a freelance journalist for ARD and Deutschlandradio, has researched Telekom for more than 15 years. For this feature he spoke with current employees, anonymous sources, former staff and whistleblowers. His 2012 Telekom research drew many reactions from the company. For SWR, DLF and NDR, he previously uncovered drug trials on pubescent boys in facilities for people with disabilities, using a libido-suppressing drug.