Germany: SAP introduces the right to work on a part-time basis for a fixed period time

While Germany’s Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, Andrea Nahles (SPD) is doing her utmost, albeit currently with little success, to introduce legislation giving workers working on a part-time basis the right to return to full-time work, SAP, the German multinational and global leader in enterprise software has taken the initiative and as of 01 April the 19,000 employees in its German offices can scale back their working time for a fixed time period (running from 1 to 36 months) at the end of which they can go back to full-time work. With this move SAP is looking to respond to a demand by its employees for customized working hours and in this way it can also boost its image as an employer.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

Work satisfaction- a performance factor. At SAP’s head office in the small town of Waldorff in north Baden-Wurttemberg, one of the Germany richest districts, the company has been trying for years to better take its employees’ wishes into account. The importance of employee satisfaction is “part of the company’s DNA”. This approach is also economics oriented. “We set up an employee satisfaction index called the Employee Engagement Index, (EEI), explained Angela Todisco, head of HR at SAP headqua

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
Catherine Chavanier (CDC Habitat): “Social dialogue on AI facilitates its deployment”
In February, CDC Habitat (10,500 employees) signed a two-year framework agreement governing social dialogue on AI. Catherine Chavanier, HR Director of the subsidiary of CDC (Caisse des dépôts et...
EU: Council adopts position on simplifying AI rules
The Council of the EU approved its position on 13 March regarding the “omnibus regulation” proposal, published last November by the Commission to simplify the AI Act. Confirming the...
20 March 2026
Germany: menopause issues finally gain corporate recognition
With 12 million women over 40 in the labour force, German companies and occupational health professionals are beginning to adopt support policies for those affected by menopause-related issues...
Greece: hospitality sector signs first collective agreement aligned with National Social Pact
The hospitality sector (125,000 employees), one of Greece’s largest industries after retail, signed a new two-year collective agreement on 17 March. The text, effective from 1 April 2026...
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
France: government submits draft on pay transparency
On 6 March, the French government sent social partners a draft bill to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive. The text provides details on the implementation timetable, corporate...
9 March 2026
2
Spain: report proposes democratising employee participation
On 2 February, Spanish labour minister Yolanda Diaz presented the conclusions of a report on democracy in the workplace. The document, which calls for employees to be given a say in...
25 February 2026
3
Italy: Deliveroo and Glovo targeted by justice over courier working conditions
The Milan Public Prosecutor's Office has ordered two of Italy's leading food delivery platforms, Foodinho (Glovo) and Deliveroo, to be placed under judicial administration. According to...
9 March 2026
4
Germany: menopause issues finally gain corporate recognition
With 12 million women over 40 in the labour force, German companies and occupational health professionals are beginning to adopt support policies for those affected by menopause-related issues...
5
Valérie Decaux (La Poste): “Our older workers policy is based on individualisation to move beyond age-related-stigmatisation”
La Poste Group (nearly 200,000 employees in France) unveiled its first senior employment agreement in late February. The text outlines measures for early retirement assistance, workplace...
6
Argentina: labour reform passed by Parliament
Legislation deregulating the framework labour law was definitively adopted by Argentine Parliament on Friday 27 February. The CGT, the country's primary trade union federation, filed legal...
4 March 2026