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: Henkel, a pioneer of partner parental leave amid a national context that is stagnant
A few months ago, the Henkel group introduced a partner parental leave scheme that benefits employees in the 80 countries in which the company operates. Meanwhile the bill approved in 2023 on the...
14 February 2025
Germany: uncertainty over future of supply chain due diligence act
Under fire from critics for several months, the German supply chain due diligence act (LkSG), passed in 2021, is in the crosshairs of political parties amid the election campaign. Employer...
Germany: court rules that electronic payslips and personal documents are sufficient
The German Federal Labour Court (BAG) has ruled against a supermarket sales assistant from the Edeka group who demanded to continue receiving her payslip on paper, contrary to the provisions of a...
- HR
- News brief
10 February 2025
Germany: what measures do the main parties standing in the federal elections envisage for the world of work?
Early parliamentary elections are to be held in Germany on 23 February. As such, mind RH is presenting a summary of the measures concerning the world of work proposed by the main parties already...
5 February 2025
Germany: debate rages on introducing one-day wait for sick pay and ditching electronic system
Amid a sharp rise in absenteeism in Germany since the pandemic, a debate has emerged on whether the country should abolish pay on the first day of sick leave. With this in mind, several employers'...
13 January 2025
Germany: vast savings and job cuts plan agreed at Volkswagen but it is not a panacea
Following historic negotiations, the IG Metall trade union, the central works council and Volkswagen management agreed on Friday 20 December on major cost-cutting measures and significant...
7 January 2025
Germany: short-time working to be extended from 12 to 24 months in response to industrial job cuts
With almost 81,000 industrial jobs already lost in the first nine months of the year, announcements of further cuts in German industry are continuing apace. In addition to the aggressive and...
- HR
- Analysis
16 December 2024
Germany: without an agreement before Christmas, strike action is scheduled for start of 2025 at Volskwagen
The fourth meeting between the German automaker's social partners took place on Monday 9 December against a backdrop of massive warning strikes. Although eagerly awaited, the meeting failed to...
10 December 2024
Germany: decision of principle on calculation of overtime pay supplements for part-time workers
In a ruling published on 5 December, the Federal Labour Court (BAG) handed down a decision of principle establishing that part-time workers are entitled to the same overtime bonuses as their...
9 December 2024
Germany: cabinet adopts bill linking award of federal public contracts to compliance with collective agreements
On 27 November, Germany’s Federal Cabinet adopted a bill on the obligation to comply with industry-level collective agreements when awarding federal public contracts. The aim is to combat...
28 November 2024
Germany: Bosch cuts 5,500 jobs and reduces working hours and salaries for 10,000 employees
On 22 November, equipment manufacturer Bosch announced further cuts to its workforce. Around 5,500 positions in several business sectors are affected, including 3,800 in Germany. These cuts are in...
27 November 2024
Germany: Volkswagen heads for strike action as talks fail to achieve breakthrough
The third meeting between the IG Metall trade union, the central works council and Volkswagen management, which took place on 21 November, failed to produce an agreement, despite a proposal from...
22 November 2024
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