German Supplement Maker Finally Elects Worker Council After Three-Year Legal Battle
Published on 07/25/2026 at 21:32 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A bitter three-year legal saga that saw a German supplement company fight tooth and nail against employee representation has ended with the election of a works council. Nutracorp, the manufacturer behind brands More Nutrition and ESN, held the vote on June 24, 2026, with roughly 60 percent of staff casting ballots.
The newly formed body began its work on July 3, putting an end to a dispute that dragged through five separate court proceedings, all the way up to Germany’s Federal Labor Court (BAG). Company leadership had mounted what experts describe as fierce resistance to the establishment of a worker council from the outset.
A spokesperson for the TQG Group, Nutracorp’s parent company, struck a conciliatory tone after the vote, expressing a commitment to constructive collaboration going forward. Labor law specialists now point to the case as a textbook example of the obstacles companies can throw up when employees try to exercise their codetermination rights.
Speaking of legal compliance and workplace protections — ensuring your business meets its health and safety obligations is just as critical. Many UK employers unknowingly risk fines because they lack the right documentation. A free toolkit provides ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists, and guidance to help you comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. Download the free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit
Vienna Chamber of Commerce Faces Separate Election Dispute
While Nutracorp’s vote settled one conflict, election-related tensions are simmering elsewhere. In Austria, the Vienna Chamber of Commerce is grappling with allegations of vote-rigging. Fischer, president of the Austrian Small Business Association (SWV), has accused Ruck, head of the Austrian Business League (Wirtschaftsbund), of manipulating the 2025 chamber elections.
The row centers on mandates from so-called unity lists. According to the SWV, 53 mandates were improperly transferred. This allowed the Business League to secure a razor-thin absolute majority of 50.2 percent with 695 mandates instead of 642. Without the disputed shift, the SWV claims it would have held 327 mandates rather than 274. In the chamber’s economic parliament, the SWV’s representation dropped from 23 to just 13 seats.
Federal Labor Court Tightens Rules on Formal Errors
The Nutracorp case is far from the only one highlighting legal pitfalls in workplace procedures. The BAG has issued several landmark rulings in recent months that carry serious consequences for employers.
In one decision on May 7, 2026 (case number 2 AZR 184/25), the court ruled that standard registered mail with scan confirmation is not a valid proof of delivery. The problem: postal workers often sign before actually dropping the letter into the mailbox. Deutsche Post has since introduced a new procedure where confirmation only comes after the scan. For time-sensitive documents, however, legal experts still recommend hand delivery or courier service.
The penalties for formal slip-ups can be severe. If a required mass layoff notice is missing, the dismissal is automatically void, the BAG ruled on March 19, 2026 (case 2 AS 22/23). The court also strengthened protections for severely disabled workers: employers must now consult the disabled employees’ representative before any termination, with a mandatory one-week notice period, according to a January 29, 2026 ruling (2 AZR 128/25).
Court rulings on formal errors and procedural slip-ups show just how costly administrative gaps can be. The same principle applies to workplace safety — a missing risk assessment or outdated checklist can leave your business exposed. A comprehensive health and safety toolkit gives you all the templates and checklists you need to stay compliant and protect your team. Get the free Health & Safety Toolkit
EU Court: Travel Time in Company Car Counts as Working Hours
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has clarified the rules for mobile work. Travel time in a company car to changing work sites now counts as full working hours — provided the commute is an integral part of the job and the employee cannot freely manage their time (case C-110/24).
The ruling hits sectors like construction and nursing care particularly hard. Companies in these industries now face potential back-pay claims. And the financial impact is concrete: since the start of 2026, Germany’s minimum wage stands at €13.90 per hour.
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