We need more work instead of work-life balance

employment in old age

In order to save the pension system, we must above all work longer.

(Photo: imago images/MASKOT)

Nothing is defended as vehemently in Germany as one’s own comfort zone. As soon as Peter Kampeter, General Manager of the Employers’ Associations, said that in Germany there was a general need for more “craving for work”, things got really busy.

“Cheeky” is such an assertion, was a nicer comment. When Kampeter then said that a good work-life balance can also be achieved by working 39 hours a week, a wave of anger broke out along the lines of: the employer who wants to exploit the workers.

But anyone who believes that the fourth largest economy in the world can hold its own in international competition on a part-time basis should at least listen to the former SPD labor minister. Andrea Nahles is not suspected of indulging in capitalism.

The current head of the Federal Employment Agency recently said that work-life balance issues had to be renegotiated. In the direction of the younger generation, she made it clear: “Work is not a pony farm.”

What concerns employers and head of the employment agency are the facts. The standard retirement age of 67 for all employees will not be reached until 2031. Early retirement is the key. Since its introduction in 2014, more than two million employees have taken advantage of early retirement.

>> Read here: “We have to work more in Germany”

In 2021 alone there were almost 269,000 employees, that is 26.3 percent of all new pensioners. On the other hand, there are younger people who have different priorities in working life than baby boomers.

400,000 professionals annually

But whether young or old, the demographic development affects everyone. Every year, more than 400,000 skilled workers are missing to keep the contribution rate in the pension insurance constant. This corresponds to the population of a city larger than Wuppertal.

Even if we exploit all potential domestically, from higher female employment to longer working lives, there will still be a labor force gap. Even more immigration and easier citizenship are not going to help us that much.

What is therefore not needed in view of this situation are narrow-minded defensive reflexes and blame. If anyone is serious about saving the pension system, they need to talk about working longer.

The relationship between average working hours and retirement periods must not drift further apart. The ratio should remain the same. We all have to work longer hours. We need to talk about the how.

More: Why the new Germany speed so rarely succeeds

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