Reports indicate that Zalando is continuing to implement staff reductions in Germany. Drawing from company sources and an internal memo published by the Handelsblatt, the company and the Berlin Works Council reached an agreement on the framework conditions for these layoffs in late May. Consequently, affected employees were offered severance packages as part of a voluntary program, available until June 30th.
According to internal company sources, these severance offers operate under a principle of “double voluntariness,” meaning the termination agreement only takes effect if both the employee and the employer consent. The job reductions were reportedly announced as early as mid-March. At that time, Zalando announced in an intranet communication, which the Handelsblatt also reported, that they were anticipating a cut of approximately 150 to 200 positions.
Zalando confirmed when questioned that it had established “mutually agreed termination agreements” and maintained a voluntary program, though the company declined to specify the exact number of central Berlin employees who would depart. These latest job cuts follow existing reduction initiatives.
Previously, Zalando had announced the closure of its oldest logistics center in Erfurt earlier this year. Following negotiations with employee representatives, the fashion retailer agreed on a social plan in June, which led to more than 2,100 employees losing their positions at the facility at the end of September. Furthermore, Zalando had previously announced layoffs within the “Lounge Content Solutions” division in January, with 180 employees expected to leave by the end of the year.
