Inserts:

00:03 Report / Alexa Meyer

00:38 Jonas Enderlein / Solutiance CEO

01:27 Achim Dercks / Managing Director of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce 

03:11 Achim Dercks / Managing Director of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce 

03:39 Jonas Enderlein / Solutiance CEO

Script:

While it might look like Jonas Enderlein is currently sitting alone in front of his computer — at work, he's actually floating above the rooftops of Potsdam. His company offers digital solutions to large real estate firms. It scans and digitizes the condition of rooftops, and then matches the firms with local roofing companies to carry out repairs.

Enderlein's 40 employees are based all over Germany, and mostly work from home. Depending on the region, they have a different number of public holidays... which can complicate teamwork. 

00:36 

OTON: Jonas Enderlein, Solutiance CEO
"We have to be aware that we are simply no longer the world leader in many sectors in Germany. And the question is: how do we get back there? Of course, working less is not a good alternative. So, you have to ask yourself critically: do we really need all these public holidays? Or could we perhaps put them on a weekend?"

00:53

Enderlein is not alone: many companies and trade associations in Germany are calling for Germans to work MORE in view of demographic trends and the poor economic performance of many indicators. After all, their working hours are rather low compared to the rest of europe. 

TC: 01:08

+++GRAPHIC REIN+++
According to the OECD, a German employee worked an average of 1343 hours in 2023. That was 92 hours less than in Austria, 186 hours less than in Switzerland... and 391 hours less than in Italy."

01:25

OTON: Achim Dercks, Managing Director of the Association of German Chambers of INdustry and Commerce 
"We have a clear disadvantage here. And there can't be any limits to thinking about solutions. It doesnt matter whether it's public holidays, older people working longer before retirement, or families and parents working longer. But something has to be done."

01:40

Germany has fewer public holidays than other European nations like Austria and Malta... which both have 13. Here, there are at least 10 public holidays, plus more depending on which German state you're looking at. 

And according to a survey by the Insa Institute... 57% of Germans are against the idea of abolishing a public holiday. Only 34% support the idea. 

02:02
OTON: VOXPOPS
Frau1: "Impossible. There are plenty of public holidays everywhere. And working longer is not possible. But people seem to have voted for these sorts of bad policies, so what can you do?"
Reporter Q: And how do you see it?
Frau: "There are advantages and disadvantages. My husband also has a company and he is always struggling with which public holidays are there in which federal state? That impacts whether employees and customers are working. Everything should be standardized.
Woman: I dont think the problem is that people don't work enough hours. Rather, that we need to look at how we can create better working conditions so that they can be more productive."

02:36
According to German Economic Institute calculations, one less public holiday a year could result in an increase in economic output by up to zero-point-two percent - equivalent to 8-point-6 Bbillion euros. 

Another area of debate? more and more people in Germany are working part-time. 

According to the Institute for Employment Research, the part time rate has risen to nearly 40%. The reason? sectors in which part time work is wide spread... like health care and education... are growing. While industry is in crisis. 

In the eyes of some German business associations, this shift is also contributing to lower economic growth. 

03:10
OTON: Achim Dercks, DIHK Managing Director
"There are only 25 million full time employees. And that's why we are at such a disadvantge internationally. So if people in other countries are more committed to their companies, spending more time working and producing more goods and services, then this is going to be reflected in their countries' prosperity."

03:32
For Jonas Enderlein and many other companies, more flexible working hours would be particularly helpful. 

03:38
OTON: Jonas Enderlein Solutiance CEO
"I really dont like that we are taking a stricter path than even the EU allows us to take with the maximum daily working time."

03:46 
Meanwhile, labor unions are warning against discussions about the fact that Germans "supposedly" work too little. In reality, mental stress and burnout are on the rise, as health insurance companies and sick leave statistics show.