Impact of the crisis on working conditions

On behalf of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Working and Living Conditions, this analysis looks into the impact that the financial and economic crisis had on working conditions in Germany. As the results show, employees working in establishments greatly affected by the crisis also faced changes in their working conditions. Shorter working hours, wage concessions and the usage of flexible employment forms however contributed to a comparatively stable labour market situation and helped retaining workers’ jobs. National measures introduced by the federal government as well as industry-specific solutions arranged by the social partners supported firms in their struggle to overcome the recession.