A curious case stirs the Federal Labour Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht): A Muslim employee refuses to stack beer – referencing religious freedom. The court agrees in its recent decision. The proceeding now goes into a new round.

According to the court, people of Muslim faith may refuse to handle liquor and other alcoholic beverages on grounds of their religious beliefs. This refusal may not be the reason to release the worker. Instead, the employer must take all reasonable steps to provide suitable alternative work within the company. Continue →

Defense Minister Karl-Theordor zu Guttenberg is facing allegations of plagiarism for his dissertation. According to German magazine “Der Spiegel”, Guttenberg commissioned a study on the relation of god to the American constitution at the academic council of the German parilament (Bundestag) and then proceeded to include the resulting paper almost entirely in his dissertation – even though members of parliament are only allowed to use the academic council for their official functions. On friday, the former minister of economic affairs admitted having made mistakes in regards to the plagiarism allegations and apologized in a public statement. Guttenberg has chosen to not use his PhD until the investigations by his former university have concluded.

Meanwhile, chancelor Angela Merkel has stuck to her defense minister: “She has full confidence in the defense minister”, said government speaker Steffen Seibert at a press conference on monday. He also extended this trust on behalf of the entire cabinet. Meanwhile, several members of the cabinet have expressed the notion that Guttenberg is indeed a fine defense minister, and that these allegations do not make him any less suitable for the job.

In a guest commentary in German trade newspaper “Handelsblatt” published on January 28th., German Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth; Kristina Schröder has announced a plan for more women in leading positions in business.

The core of this multi step plan is to be constituted by a provisional obligation for self-regulation which would force enterprises over a certain threshold of employees to implement a woman’s quota in their business and publish the numbers of this quota. Continue →