Evonik slashing 1,000 jobs in cost cutting exercise

German chemicals firm Evonik is to cut up to 1,000 jobs worldwide, in administration and sales, to reduce what it says is bureaucracy, streamline processes, and cut administrative and sales expenses. To achieve the target of permanently reducing the cost base by EUR200 million by the end of 2020, management and employee representatives have agreed on key points, it says.

“Our goal is to build a best-in-class specialty chemicals company,” said Christian Kullmann, Chairman of Evonik's Board of Management. “To get there we need three things: a balanced portfolio, leading innovative capability, and a new, performance-oriented corporate culture. To this end, we are now making a big step forward on the cost side. We want to accelerate decision-making and strengthen cost-awareness.”

In fall 2017, Evonik set itself the target of permanently reducing administrative and selling expenses by EUR200 million worldwide. About two-thirds of the cost savings will come from administration and a third will come from sales functions.

The first EUR50 million of these permanent savings will be achieved this year and will mainly comprise material costs. To realise the remaining EUR150 million, a detailed analysis of all administrative support functions was carried out in recent months.

As a result of this analysis, up to 1,000 jobs will be cut in administration and sales by the end of 2020. The agreement that rules out business-related dismissals for employees in Germany has been extended until mid-2023. Evonik will also be using natural fluctuation to reduce the number of jobs in administration and sales worldwide. Vacant positions will be examined to see whether it is necessary to fill them.

“Within the bounds of a policy document we will agree on important and proven social-plan instruments as well as starting with new, innovative ones,” said Martin Albers, Chairman of the General Works Council. “At the same time, within this framework, we have managed to achieve the greatest possible job security for our colleagues with the ruling out of business-related dismissals for a period of five years. In doing so, the executive board, the employee representatives and the IG BCE union have demonstrated that trustworthy cooperation and a collaborative set-up can lead to success, even for difficult processes.”

(PRA)

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