Continental offers mobile working to 90% of its global workforce (interview)

German auto parts manufacturer Continental has just launched mobile working within the company for 90% of its 200,000 employees from all hierarchy levels working across twenty-one countries. This mobile working offer goes much further than offers recently made by Bosch and Volkswagen because it is a global offer and sets no working time limits. Initially negotiated with the German central works council and discussed with the EWC, this company working time offer agreement, proposes an extremely flexible framework of application that will be negotiated between national social partners and central management teams on a country by country basis. With a view to delving deeper into the details of this working time offer, Planet Labor interviewed Mr. Dirk Siebels, Labor Relations Department VP at Continental tasked with the global implementation this agreement by April 2017.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

At the heart of Continental’s offer on mobile working. The basic offer by Continental to its employees comprises three main elements. The first tackles mobile working where every employee has the right to opt to work outside the office, be it at home or elsewhere, and within the framework of the agreement that will have been negotiated between the social partners at national subsidiary level. This basic offer does not include any ceiling for mobile working, nor does it include time frames withi

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
United Kingdom: Parliament finally passes Employment Rights Bill
The UK Labour government's flagship reform of employment rights was passed by both houses on 16 December after a turbulent parliamentary process. The bill introduces numerous changes to labour...
18 December 2025
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
EU: MEPs demand directive on algorithmic management
Members of the European Parliament have called for a directive on algorithmic management. Such legislation would introduce obligations for companies to inform employees, assess health and safety...
17 December 2025
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
EU: Commission launches consultation with social partners on quality jobs
On 4 December, the European Commission launched the first phase of consultation with social partners with a view to a European directive on jobs, which is scheduled for the end of 2026. It could...
4 December 2025
2
EDF bans alcohol on all its sites
From 1 January 2026, French energy giant EDF (180,000 employees) will prohibit alcohol consumption at all internal and external corporate events, from social gatherings to seminars. The policy...
26 November 2025
3
United Kingdom: government scraps plan to introduce ‘day one’ protection against unfair dismissal
The UK government announced on 27 November, in a statement, that it would not be introducing the right to challenge unfair dismissal (without cause) from the first day of employment in its...
3 December 2025
4
Poland: bill adopted to amend definition of psychological harassment
On 27 November, the Polish cabinet adopted a draft amendment to the labour code aimed at simplifying the definition of psychological harassment at work, or “mobbing” (Article 94 3)...
4 December 2025
5
EU: MEPs demand directive on algorithmic management
Members of the European Parliament have called for a directive on algorithmic management. Such legislation would introduce obligations for companies to inform employees, assess health and safety...
17 December 2025
6
Austria: European rules on wage transparency expected to cause a cultural shock
With the gender pay gap in Austria being the second largest in the European Union (18.3%), the Austrian government has promised to introduce a bill next spring to transpose the European directive...
27 November 2025