STIHL Chief: 40-Hour Workweek

Nikolas Stihl, chairman of STIHL, has called for a 40-hour working week without extra pay as part of a series of reforms to safeguard Germany's prosperity and welfare state. The country is facing an economic crisis, with a loss of around 15 percent of its industrial output in the past eight years and 15,000 industrial jobs lost per month.

STIHL, which generated €5.48 billion in revenue and employed 20,246 people worldwide in 2025, is a significant player in the German economy. As the world's best-selling chainsaw brand since 1971, the company has a long history of success, founded by Andreas Stihl in 1926. Nikolas Stihl, the founder's grandson, is taking a long-term view, warning that the situation of the German economy is serious and that the industrial base is at risk of eroding.

The company's chairman cites home-grown problems, including an overregulated economy, high energy costs, high labour costs, high taxes, and a declining level of education and qualifications, as major obstacles for firms like his. While acknowledging the impact of external factors such as US tariffs, China's aggressive industrial policy, and geopolitical tensions, Stihl argues that it is mainly domestic issues that are holding companies back.

## Why it matters The proposed reforms, including a 40-hour working week without extra pay, are intended to address these issues and ensure the long-term prosperity of Germany. The federal government's planned reforms, covering statutory health insurance, pensions, taxes, and the labour market, are seen as good compromises, but Stihl believes they do not go far enough. As the chairman of a major company, Stihl's views carry significant weight, and his call for reforms is likely to spark debate and discussion about the future of the German economy.

The stakes are high, with the welfare state and prosperity of Germany hanging in the balance. If the country is unable to address its economic crisis and stem the loss of industrial jobs, it could have far-reaching consequences for the entire economy. As a major employer and contributor to the German economy, STIHL's success is closely tied to the success of the country as a whole. Nikolas Stihl's call for reforms is a clear indication that the company is committed to finding solutions to the economic challenges facing Germany and is willing to take a proactive role in shaping the country's future.