Nationwide survey: ver.di records working conditions in retail

good work in retail | District Cologne-Bonn-Leverkusen

From April 28, 2025, ver.di conducts a comprehensive online survey on the working conditions in retail. This survey is part of the DGB index "good work" and extends over several priorities, including retail, mail order, wholesale and foreign trade. Until June 30, 2025, there is the possibility to participate. This initiative represents the largest scientifically well -founded survey of recent years, which aims to draw a differentiated image of working conditions in the industry.

The survey is carried out anonymously and all participating people have the opportunity to bring in their experiences and perspectives. The data collected is treated strictly confidentially and only evaluated in a merged form, so that no conclusions about individual persons are possible. The anonymized results are then to be made accessible to company meetings and via the ver.di website.

Silke Zimmer, member of the Federal Executive Board of ver.di, emphasizes the importance of the survey for employees in trade. Current challenges such as low wages, lack of personnel and uncertain employment relationships must be addressed to make progress. The survey offers a platform for the commercial workers to articulate their concerns and thus work together on an improvement in their working conditions.

The results of the survey are not only important for those involved, but will also flow into the upcoming tariff groups and works council elections. Ver.di sees the collected data a valuable basis for initiating concrete change processes and sustainably improving working conditions. This step is necessary to effectively counter the challenges in individual, shipping and wholesale and create a fairer world of work.

The survey is a call to all employees in retail, actively participating in the design of their working world. Only through the exchange of experiences and the introduction of personal stories can a sustainable improvement in working conditions be sought.