Thomas Schnee
Correspondent in GermanyAs a Berlin correspondent for the French and Swiss press since the late 1990s, I cover a wide range of economic, political and social issues, with a particular focus on the German business and labour market. My areas of interest include co-determination, digitalisation, demographics and ESG/DEI policies.
Expertise
As a correspondent in Berlin for the French and Swiss press since the late 1990s, I cover a wide range of economic, political and social issues, with a particular focus on the German business world and labour market. My areas of interest include co-management, digitalisation, demographics and ESG/DEI policies.
Most read articles by Thomas Schnee
Germany: Employers’ representatives seek to limit the rights of works councils
The Employers' Federation of German Employers' Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände - BDA) published a report at the end of September in which it proposes a...
8 October 2026
Is a global wage freeze at Volkswagen possible?
The existence of an option to implement a global wage freeze until 2030 has been confirmed by the management of the German group Volkswagen, which nevertheless provides no details and refers to...
20 October 2026
Germany: a negotiation timetable and the prospect of industrial action at Volkswagen
The news. On 23 October, the German carmaker Volkswagen and the trade union IG Metall announced the opening of negotiations on wages, the new cost-cutting programme and job cuts. They will take...
27 October 2026
Germany: non-EU recruitment remains marginal despite skilled immigration reform
The news. Nearly a year and a half after the entry into force of the “Skilled Immigration Development Act”, only 4% of businesses have recruited at least one employee directly from a...
28 October 2026
Latest articles by Thomas Schnee
Germany: a better ability to negotiate pay cannot justify a gender pay gap (court ruling)
In the week 13 February 2023 the German Federal Labour Court issued a ruling that could well change salary setting practices at the time of hiring, and result in the re-examination of thousands of...
Germany: whistleblower protection law hit by new delay
A bill passed in December by the German Bundestag, for law to protect whistleblowers (Hinweisgeberschutzgesetz), was blocked on Friday 10 February by the Bundesrat, the chamber where the...
- HR
- News brief
17 February 2023
Germany: Berlin wants to introduce a one-year leave period for further education and training
Germany is preparing to introduce a system of continuing education for employees that has at its centre a one-year training leave opportunity, during which time the employee’s salary will be...
18 January 2023
Germany: judgment makes it easier to keep unused paid leave
In a potentially landmark ruling, issued on 20 December 2022, the German Federal Labour Court (BAG) decided that employees remain entitled to unused paid leave for an indefinite period, if their...
16 January 2023
Germany: court ruling will make it easier to terminate older workers employment contracts
In early December 2022, Germany’s Federal Labour Court ruled that when assessing the social criteria for determining the order in which employment contract terminations are made, how close an...
12 January 2023
Germany: bill adopted to promote a more inclusive labour market
At the end of 2022, the German government adopted a bill that sets out to foster a more inclusive labour market. The objective is to bring more people with disabilities into the primary labour...
Germany: Deutsche Bahn pays €150 bonus to staff proposing energy saving ideas
Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway operator and a huge consumer of electricity, revealed on Wednesday 14 December that its search for good ideas to reduce energy waste, launched in...
16 December 2022
Germany: Continental urged to communicate better with its employees over the theft of its data
After a cyberattack that resulted in the theft of 40 terabytes of data from the German automotive supplier Continental (54,000 German employees), it has taken four months and significant pressure...
15 December 2022
Germany: Chancellor Scholz looking to halt early retirement
One phrase uttered by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reignited the debate on pensions and the reforms being prepared for 2023. “We need to increase the share of those who can actually...
- HR
- News brief
13 December 2022
Germany: Berlin rolls out its new migration policy
Faced with a severe shortage of skilled labour, Germany is rolling out a massive programme to activate and seek skilled workers. In order to make up for its shortages, the country has to hire...
- HR
- News
1 December 2022
Germany: real wages are falling as sectors gear up for 2023 wage negotiations
It is too early to know whether salary increases negotiated in autumn 2022 in the major Chemicals and Metals sectors (+6.5%, +8.5% respectively over two years plus €3,000 each) will help to...
29 November 2022
Germany: growing shortage of tech and science experts (study)
The renowned German Economic Institute (IW) in Cologne has published its annual study on the situation for so-called “MINT” – mathematics, information technology, natural...
28 November 2022
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
EU: several social texts promised for 2027
The news. On 4 November, the European Commission presented its work programme for 2027. While the focus is once again on simplification, several social texts have been announced. The European...
4 November 2026
France: a bill by the end of the year to transpose the European directive on platform workers
The qualified experts appointed by the French government in the framework of transposing the Directive on Platform Workers submitted their report on 2 November. It paves the way for a bill by the...
4 November 2026
EU: Council curbs the Commission’s proposed easing of social safeguards in digital legislation
The news. On 21 October 2026, the Council of the EU agreed its negotiating mandate on the Digital Omnibus, proposed by the Commission in November 2025 to ease several provisions in digital...
3 November 2026
Croatia: 7.6% minimum wage increase from 1 January 2027
The news. On 29 October, the Croatian Council of Ministers adopted a decree setting the minimum wage for 2027. This will rise from €1,050 to €1,130 gross per month from 1 January next...
3 November 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
Ireland: minimum wage increase of 5,6% from 1 January 2027
The info. The Irish government has included a minimum wage increase of 79 cents in its Budget 2027, in line with recommendations from the Low Pay Commission. The rate will rise from €14.15...
13 October 2026
2
Denmark: government prepares implementation of pay transparency in March 2027
The news. On 8 October, the Danish executive submitted the bill transposing the European Pay Transparency Directive to the national Parliament. The text stems from an agreement between trade...
12 October 2026
3
EU: social partners put the Commission in the crossfire over quality jobs
The news. The second phase of social partner consultation on quality jobs ended on 28 September. A mandatory prerequisite for a social initiative in accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning...
5 October 2026
4
China: draft bill to strengthen platform workers’ rights
On 8 October, the Chinese government published a draft bill open for consultation aimed at providing minimum guarantees to non-employee platform workers in terms of pay and working conditions. The...
23 October 2026
5
Is a global wage freeze at Volkswagen possible?
The existence of an option to implement a global wage freeze until 2030 has been confirmed by the management of the German group Volkswagen, which nevertheless provides no details and refers to...
20 October 2026
6
France: paid leave for victims of sexual and domestic violence finally adopted
The news. On 13 October, the French National Assembly unanimously approved, among voting members, the “comprehensive bill” aimed at protecting victims of sexual and gender-based...
14 October 2026