The majority of employers in Germany (59%) expect a shift in power toward companies on issues like salary, work location, and flexible hours, according to a survey by ManpowerGroup Germany.

The study showed that 59% of employers assume that they will have the upper hand in salary negotiations in the future. When it comes to place of work, 59% of employers also believe that they will have more control over the decision. When it comes to flexible working hours, slightly fewer companies (56%) see themselves in a dominant position.

According to ManpowerGroup, it remains to be seen which way the pendulum will swing, but a return to the old ‘normality’ - a situation in which employers completely determine the rules when it comes to key negotiation points such as salary and place of work - is not to be expected.

Meanwhile, further insight from the survey showed that companies take very different measures to ensure employee retention depending on the industry. Work-life balance plays a crucial role here: IT companies place particular emphasis on improving this at 57% - this is the highest value of all industries. The second industry that shows a clear focus on work-life balance is the consumer goods and services industry (49%), followed by the health care and life sciences industry with 47%.

In the energy and utilities sector, 48% of companies are focusing on offering their employees more opportunities for advancement. The financial and real estate sector is focusing on reducing stress: 45% of companies are taking appropriate measures to retain employees. In the communications services sector, 48% of the employers surveyed are focusing on training managers to ensure better support for the workforce.

For the survey, 1,038 companies were surveyed in Germany as part of the ManpowerGroup labor market barometer for the fourth quarter of 2024.