A recent survey by the Allensbach Institute, commissioned by the Family Entrepreneurs Association, has revealed a disparity between Germans’ willingness to work harder and their reluctance to accept changes to the work environment.
According to the survey, 56 percent of the 1,032 respondents agree that “we must work more and harder to maintain prosperity.” However, a significant proportion, one in four, categorically reject this notion. The survey’s findings indicate a substantial gap between the widespread conviction that Germany needs to work harder and the willingness to accept corresponding changes to the framework conditions.
While a majority of Germans believe that the country needs to work harder, there is little support for measures that would increase the workweek for all employees. Only 11 percent of the respondents support a longer workweek and 38 percent are open to incentives that would encourage older workers to retire later.
The survey also highlights a widespread misconception that Germans work more hours than their European Union counterparts. In reality, the statistics reveal a different picture, with only one in three respondents aware of the correct information.
The majority of Germans, two in three, consider the stagnation of the German economy a more serious issue than a typical economic downturn. A similar proportion believes that reforms are urgently needed to maintain Germany’s competitiveness and prevent a decline in the standard of living.
However, the survey suggests that this assessment is no guarantee that changes that affect personal interests will be accepted. While a majority of respondents support a reduction in bureaucracy, relief from energy and tax costs and faster digitalization, these measures all have in common that they do not directly affect the ownership of the population.