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
Oliver Dietrich (IG Metall): “The advent of AI can be a means of deepening social partnership within companies”
In Germany, trade unions want to influence how AI is deployed in companies. Oliver Dietrich is an AI project manager at the regional office of the IG Metall trade union in North Rhine-Westphalia...
21 January 2026
Germany: collective bargaining negotiations begin in chemical industry
Collective bargaining talks in Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are due to open this week, covering nearly 580,000 employees across around 1,700 companies. With the sector facing...
3 February 2026
Germany: government seeks to facilitate immigration of skilled Indian workers
During a visit to India earlier this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the strategic importance of attracting Indian workers to Germany, signing a series of cooperation agreements...
15 January 2026
Germany: Chancellor prepares ground for working time law reform
Since mid-January 2026, senior figures in the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have reopened debate over Germany’s working time legislation. The party’s...
26 January 2026
Latest articles by Thomas Schnee
Germany: what impact will the return of military service and efforts to boost reserve forces have on businesses?
Germany wants to significantly increase its military personnel to bolster its ability to defend itself. This push will involve reintroducing military service, either voluntary or compulsory, and...
3 July 2025
Germany: minimum wage to rise by 14% over two years
On 26 June, the German minimum wage commission published its proposal on adjustments for the next two years. It calls for raising the minimum wage to €13.90 gross per hour on 1 January 2026...
1 July 2025
Austria: major pension system reform proposed
On 18 June, the leaders of the parliamentary groups of Austria's governing parties (conservatives, social democrats and liberals) announced the broad outlines of a pension reform plan. The planned...
Germany: early retirement under fire
Early retirement is becoming increasingly popular in Germany. However, more and more often, people who opt for this scheme then go on to receive benefits designed to keep older people in work...
Germany: two collective agreements for temporary work sector merge
The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) and the General Association of Personnel Service Providers (GVP) have signed a new joint collective agreement for the temporary work sector, which...
19 June 2025
Austria: spring collective bargaining ends with pay rises from 2.65% to 3.05%
Led by Austria's two major trade unions PRO GE (industry) and GPA (private sector employees in all sectors), the 2025 spring negotiations were marked by more aggressive demands and, above all, a...
12 June 2025
Germany: Volkswagen creates new structures to accelerate job cuts
With at least 20,000 early departures already confirmed, Volkswagen's plan to reduce its German workforce appears to be on schedule. However, the extensive restructuring at Europe's leading car...
10 June 2025
Germany: IG Metall shelves four-day week demand
As the new government's stance in favour of greater flexibility and longer working hours for German workers fuels a growing debate, the IG Metall trade union has announced that it is shelving its...
28 May 2025
Germany: debate over working time reform gains momentum
The coalition agreement signed by Germany's conservative CDU/CSU and social democratic SPD parties provides for the abolition of the eight-hour working day in favour of a maximum weekly working...
26 May 2025
Germany: labour court hands down ruling on retention of stock option rights after resignation
The German Federal Labour Court (BAG) has decided that employees retain their rights to all options already exercised after resigning, in a ruling handed down on 19 March. Applicable retroactively...
15 May 2025
SAP significantly waters down diversity programme
In response to US President Donald Trump's executive order to abolish diversity policies, the German business software leader has announced that it is scrapping its target of 40% women in its...
Germany: four-day week niche and unpopular, German Economic Institute finds (study)
Between March and May 2024, the German Economic Institute (IW) surveyed human resources managers from 823 companies of all sizes and across all sectors on the topic of the four-day week with...
25 April 2025
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
EU: social partners split over competitiveness and action on job quality
The European Trade Union Confederation and BusinessEurope have published their response to the consultation document on the European Commission's upcoming EU quality jobs initiative. The two...
4 February 2026
2026 TRENDS — Social dialogue, a major challenge in the deployment of AI in companies
mind RH is analysing the trends that will shape 2026. Artificial intelligence is emerging as a force that goes far beyond efficiency gains and productivity improvements. It is reshaping tasks...
4 February 2026
The major trends of 2026
New regulations coming into force, economic uncertainty, evolving skills requirements… More than ever, the HR function will play a strategic role within organizations in 2026. mind HR...
3 February 2026
Germany: collective bargaining negotiations begin in chemical industry
Collective bargaining talks in Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are due to open this week, covering nearly 580,000 employees across around 1,700 companies. With the sector facing...
3 February 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
Oliver Dietrich (IG Metall): “The advent of AI can be a means of deepening social partnership within companies”
In Germany, trade unions want to influence how AI is deployed in companies. Oliver Dietrich is an AI project manager at the regional office of the IG Metall trade union in North Rhine-Westphalia...
21 January 2026
2
Germany: collective bargaining negotiations begin in chemical industry
Collective bargaining talks in Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are due to open this week, covering nearly 580,000 employees across around 1,700 companies. With the sector facing...
3 February 2026
3
EU: social partners split over competitiveness and action on job quality
The European Trade Union Confederation and BusinessEurope have published their response to the consultation document on the European Commission's upcoming EU quality jobs initiative. The two...
4 February 2026
4
Italy: collective agreement for rubber and plastics sector focuses on new skills
A month ahead of schedule, the Federazione Gomma Plastica employers' organisation and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions have renewed the collective agreement for the rubber and...
5 January 2026
5
Italy: new generational renewal agreement penned at UniCredit
The agreement signed on 30 December by UniCredit, Italy’s second-largest banking group, with the Fabi, First-Cisl, Fisac-Cgil, Uilca and Unisin trade unions aims to continue generational...
15 January 2026
6
France: social partner talks extend far beyond contractual terminations
After a false start on 3 December, French social partners resumed talks on 7 January 2026 on potential changes to the unemployment insurance agreement, including the rules governing compensation...
12 January 2026