Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
German software company SAP finalises nearly 3,500 job cuts in Germany at the beginning of 2025. Already in 2024, the company had announced its global restructuring plans leading to the loss of 9,000 to 10,000 jobs worldwide (SAP-2024-WO. For its European sites, the company negotiated an agreement concluded with employee representatives. Job cuts are mainly to be realised through voluntary leaves, largely focusing on employees over 55 years of age. The restructuring is to be completed by the end of March 2025.
In December 2024, it became clear that nearly 3,500 employees are affected in Germany. News reports state that nearly 2,800 employees opted for early retirement and over 600 used the voluntary leave scheme, meaning that they will receive severance pay. Over 5,000 employees had announced to be interested in the SAP restructuring scheme. However, the company did not want to let go of more employees than intended as it did not want to lose vital skills and know-how.
SAP employs over 15,500 staff in Germany and over 100,700 people worldwide.
Eurofound (2024), SAP, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 202203, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/202203.
This working paper offers a comprehensive methodological overview of the European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) databases. Even though the methodology has not changed over time, new categories have been added, and the way it has been used by researchers and policymakers...
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