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: crisis-hit industries cast shadow over 2026 bargaining cycle
In 2026, collective wage agreements for nearly 10 million employees in Germany are set to expire. With upcoming negotiations in crisis-hit 'pilot' sectors such as chemicals and metalworking, the...
2 December 2025
Germany: Erwin Hymer Group’s innovative and award-winning AI agreement
Fed up with negotiating separate agreements for each new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, the social partners at Erwin Hymer Group (8,900 employees) have instead secured a broad, overarching...
12 December 2025
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
Germany: far-right-aligned ‘union’ sets sights on Volkswagen works councils
At next spring’s German works council elections, Zentrum – the 'alternative' union aligned with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party – will seek to strengthen its foothold in major...
9 December 2025
Latest articles by Thomas Schnee
Germany: ‘active retirement’ law adopted to encourage seniors to remain in the workforce
On 15 October, Germany’s cabinet approved draft legislation on ‘active retirement‘, which is expected to pass swiftly through Parliament. The bill would allow people who continue...
20 October 2025
Switzerland: National Council relaxes remote work rules and introduces right to disconnect
Swiss federal lawmakers have voted by a wide margin to extend the framework governing remote working, aiming to "better reflect the opportunities offered by digitalisation" and promote a healthier...
17 October 2025
Austria: Social Affairs Committee green-lights improved redundancy conditions for self-employed workers
On 8 October 2025, the Social Affairs Committee of the Austrian National Council, the country’s lower house of parliament, approved new redundancy rules for self-employed workers, paving the...
- HR
- News brief
14 October 2025
Germany: AI’s arrival in businesses shows promise but remains slow and uneven
Artificial intelligence recently caused plans to cut jobs in German companies. However, several studies point to its use being perceived as promising for productivity but slow to take hold in an...
3 October 2025
Germany: Adidas ceases to apply industry collective agreements as of 1 September
In August, the Federal Association of the German Footwear and Leather Goods Industry (HDS/L) informed the IG-BCE trade union – for the construction, chemicals and energy sectors – that sportswear...
26 September 2025
Austria: rapid collective agreement struck amid crisis in metalworking industry
While conditions in Austria’s metalworking sector are not yet critical, the industry is facing a trend of job losses, declining orders and stagnation. In response to the crisis, the social...
23 September 2025
Austria: social affairs minister proposes quotas for hiring senior citizens
On 21 September, Austria’s social affairs minister Korinna Schumann, of the Social Democratic Party, proposed on public broadcaster ORF the introduction of a quota system for workers over...
22 September 2025
Germany: IG Metall-Tesla conflict intensifies over policy to combat absenteeism
The management at Tesla's German Gigafactory is increasing pressure on its employees amid an exceptionally high rate of absenteeism. It is doing so with the support of 'Faction 23', a majority...
19 September 2025
Germany: will the upcoming ‘active retirement’ scheme be a financial drain with little impact on the pool of skilled labour?
Carsten Linnemann, general secretary of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), confirmed once again in mid-August the governing parties’ intention to introduce two new schemes...
- HR
- CSR
- News brief
15 September 2025
Germany: Polish employees at Tesla factory get organised
Polish employees at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin announced at the end of August their intention to present their own list for the forthcoming works council elections...
9 September 2025
Germany: bill to bolster occupational pensions published
Germany has finally unveiled a long-awaited draft law designed to bolster workplace pensions. Published at the end of July, the 'second law to strengthen occupational pension schemes' was drawn up...
- HR
- News
8 September 2025
Germany: cabinet heavily waters down due diligence law
As outlined in the coalition programme agreed in April 2025, the German cabinet on 3 September approved a significantly watered-down version of the country's Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG)...
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
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...
19 December 2025
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
Pascale Rauline (Axa EWC): “European charter formalises ongoing and accelerated social dialogue on AI”
On 27 November, Axa and its European works council (EWC) signed a charter setting out principles governing the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and guaranteeing social dialogue on the...
3 December 2025
2
Germany: crisis-hit industries cast shadow over 2026 bargaining cycle
In 2026, collective wage agreements for nearly 10 million employees in Germany are set to expire. With upcoming negotiations in crisis-hit 'pilot' sectors such as chemicals and metalworking, the...
2 December 2025
3
Bulgaria: government approves bill to encourage sector-level collective bargaining
On 26 November, the Bulgarian government approved amendments to the labour code designed to reinforce the legal framework for sector-level collective bargaining. The reform aims to stimulate...
2 December 2025
4
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
5
France: construction sector turns to long-term partial activity scheme
Amid the ongoing economic crisis hitting France’s construction sector, social partners in the public works industry (350,000 employees) signed an agreement at the end of October enabling companies...
21 November 2025
6
Inditex European works council mobilises on value sharing
In a joint statement, 10 trade unions comprising the European works council of the Inditex clothing group are calling for rallies in Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Italy and Germany...
24 November 2025