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: 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...
19 March 2026
Germany: controversial collective bargaining compliance act adopted
On 26 February, the Bundestag approved the Tariftreuegesetz (collective bargaining compliance act), aimed at strengthening collective agreements and tackling social dumping by tying certain public...
26 February 2026
Germany: a wave of redundancy plans in the automotive sector
The latest financial results presented in early 2026 by major German car manufacturers show sharp declines. This collapse in profits has triggered the announcement or confirmation of massive job...
16 March 2026
Germany: accelerated professional integration in sight for asylum seekers
Germany’s interior minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced plans to accelerate the professional integration of asylum seekers in Germany. “The best integration is the one that starts...
23 February 2026
Latest articles by Thomas Schnee
Germany: ground-breaking collective agreement and 6.85% salary increase for the chemical sector
On 27 June 2024 Germany’s chemical sector social partners: the IG BCE trade union and the BAVC employers’ body, signed a new collective agreement spanning 20 months until February...
4 July 2024
Germany: mixed interim results for the four-day week pilot project
Since February 2024, 45 German companies have been testing the four-day working week as part of a project launched by the consultancy firm Intraprenör, which has just published an interim...
3 July 2024
Germany: decline of codetermination continues, amid array of methods to circumvent practice (study)
The Institute for Codetermination and Corporate Governance (IMU), part of the Hans Böckler trade union foundation, has just published a study on the erosion of codetermination in Germany. In...
14 June 2024
Germany: measures outlined to foster work after retirement
Following the adoption of a reform designed to maintain pension levels at 48% of average wages beyond 2025, Hubertus Heil, Germany's minister for labour and social affairs, has outlined measures...
Germany: companies adjust to cannabis legalisation
Since 1 April, recreational cannabis has been legal for adults in Germany. In addition, limited production by associations will be possible from 1 July 2024. Although legal, cannabis still has...
10 June 2024
Germany: the headache of corporate initiatives against the far right
In the highly regulated world of Germany's social market economy, companies have generally avoided taking political positions externally and, even more so, internally. But the strong rise of the...
29 April 2024
Germany: new funding for retraining in the event of ‘structural change’
On 1 April 2024 significant provisions of the law to reinforce "the promotion of initial and ongoing training", adopted last year, came into force. The new retraining allowance covers employees...
2 April 2024
Germany: Deutsche Bahn proposes switch to 35-hour week with an ‘options-based’ model
After two months of failed collective bargaining and "surprise" strikes, the train drivers' union GDL and Deutsche Bahn have reached an innovative agreement on a 35-hour working week with no...
27 March 2024
Switzerland: debate around an ‘immigration tax’ on foreign workers intensifies
The idea of a tax on companies that take on foreign workers is gaining ground even in moderate liberal circles. The aim of its proponents is to limit economic immigration, which has been on the...
21 February 2024
Germany: Bayer details its ‘fundamental’ internal reorganisation programme
Bill Anderson, the new chief executive of German pharmaceutical and agrochemical conglomerate Bayer, has launched the Dynamic Shared Ownership programme in a bid to revitalise the company...
13 February 2024
Germany: record rise in new union memberships
Unions affiliated to the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) recorded a 37% increase in new memberships in 2023. This new impetus for the movement can be explained by the need for security in a...
12 February 2024
Germany: social partners take stand against the far right and in favour of immigration
Several employer and trade union organisations are mobilising against the rise of the far-right AfD party. The party plans to bring immigration to a halt if elected, at a time when the shortage of...
1 February 2024
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
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...
20 March 2026
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...
- HR
- CSR
- News brief
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...
19 March 2026
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...
19 March 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: LinkedIn reveals most sought-after HR skills
LinkedIn is revealing the most sought-after HR skills in 2026 in a study to be published on 24 February, which mind RH is previewing. Internal communication, training planning, occupational health...
24 February 2026
2
Netherlands: new government seeks to “control” social costs
In his government policy statement to Parliament on 25 February, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced several measures designed to "control" social costs. Notably, he proposed raising the...
5 March 2026
3
Germany: accelerated professional integration in sight for asylum seekers
Germany’s interior minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced plans to accelerate the professional integration of asylum seekers in Germany. “The best integration is the one that starts...
23 February 2026
4
Spain: a bill to regulate internships
On 3 March, the Council of Ministers approved the bill on the “Status for persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies”. The text limits the number of interns a company can...
13 March 2026
5
EU: co-legislators aim to pivot European Globalisation Adjustment Fund towards restructuring anticipation
On 25 February, the Council of the EU and the Parliament reached an agreement on the Commission’s proposed regulation to expand the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). Under the...
2 March 2026
6
Block to slash workforce by nearly half
The news. In his latest shareholder letter, Jack Dorsey, CEO of payment service provider Block (formerly Square), announced plans to slash the company’s workforce “by nearly half, from...
6 March 2026