Nicolas Stihl rejects the 35-hour workweek as outdated, signaling potential escalation in autumn wage negotiations
Executive summary: Nicolas Stihl stated that the 35-hour workweek is no longer contemporary and criticized it as a outdated luxury, in an interview published by Der Spiegel on August 10, 2026. The comment could intensify labor disputes ahead of autumn collective bargaining rounds in Germany, where industry leaders and unions are negotiating working time models amid stagnant productivity and inflationary pressures.
Who is involved: Nicolas Stihl (entrepreneur, Stihl Group), German employer associations, labor unions (such as IG Metall), and policymakers involved in tariff negotiations.
Likely next: Stihl’s remarks may be cited by employer associations in negotiations to resist further reductions in working hours, potentially leading to prolonged talks or warning strikes in key manufacturing sectors.
Nicolas Stihl, entrepreneur and representative of the Stihl company, has characterized the 35-hour workweek as a relic of the past, suggesting it no longer aligns with modern economic realities. His remarks, made in an interview with Der Spiegel, are positioned to influence upcoming autumn tariff negotiations in Germany, where labor unions are expected to push for reduced working hours. The statement reflects broader tensions between employer associations and labor groups over work-time flexibility, productivity, and competitiveness in manufacturing. No concrete policy proposal was announced, but the comment adds fuel to an already politicized debate on labor reform.
Timeline
- — Unternehmer Nicolas Stihl: 35-Stunden-Woche nicht mehr zeitgemäß (Der Spiegel — Wirtschaft)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Autumn 2026 tariff negotiations in Germany's manufacturing sector begin in September
- IG Metall to demand formal reduction in weekly working hours by October 2026
- Stihl Group to release official position on worktime models by end of Q3 2026
Sectors affected
- Power tools manufacturing
- German industrial manufacturing
- Labor-intensive export sectors
Regulatory implications
- Potential influence on coalition debates within the German government on modernizing Arbeitszeitgesetz
- Increased scrutiny on company-level working time accounts as alternative to statutory reductions
Historical parallels
- 1984: IG Metall’s successful campaign for the 35-hour week in West Germany
- 2003: Hartz reforms introduced flexibility but maintained 35-hour standard as benchmark
- 2018: Failed attempt to introduce 28-hour week in IG Metall demands during low-growth period
Key entities
Sources
- Unternehmer Nicolas Stihl: 35-Stunden-Woche nicht mehr zeitgemäß — Der Spiegel — Wirtschaft