“Work to rule” in the labor market

Never before have so many employees worked “to rule” as they do now. This is reported by the Gallup Engagement Index for Germany. The proportion of employees who merely work “to rule” has reached a new high of 78%. Overall, only 9% of employees still feel a strong emotional connection to their company, an all-time low since the survey began in 2001.

The other results of the survey show declining loyalty and a high willingness to change jobs: only 50% of those surveyed expect to still be with their current employer in a year's time, and only 34% plan to still be working there in three years. Trust in companies and managers is also at an all-time low.

Only 34% of employees still have unconditional confidence in their employer's financial future, and 21% have complete confidence in their managers. The survey concludes that a high level of emotional attachment pays off, especially for employers. Employees with a higher level of emotional attachment have fewer days of absence, are more loyal to the company, and are more likely to want to stay with their current employer.

We were also interested in the following topics:

• Start-ups: The proportion of women involved in start-up foundations declined slightly last year. The total proportion of women involved in start-ups remains at only 19%. The biggest challenges lie in balancing care work and career, as well as a lack of access to networks, as shown by the new Female Founders Monitor 2025 from the Bertelsmann Foundation.

• Unemployment rate: At 6.1%, the unemployment rate in the eurozone reached a new low since the introduction of the euro, but regional differences remain. Germany continues to have one of the lowest rates at 3.5%, as reported by Der Spiegel.

• 4-day week: The discussion about the 4-day week in Germany is characterized by controversial views. New survey results from the IW Personnel Panel of the German Economic Institute show that around 80% of companies have decided against introducing a 4-day week. However, smaller companies in the skilled trades and IT sectors in particular are working with it on an above-average basis in test or regular operation.

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