Labor unions and IT sectors address changing work models

Labor representatives and IT specialists are addressing the evolving nature of work driven by digitalization and demographic shifts. At a meeting in Bregenz, the Interregional Trade Union Council (IGR) Bodensee, representing workers from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, called for reduced working hours to combat rising stress and sick leave. Key demands include a four-day work week, mandatory time tracking, and the right to disconnect.

In the technology sector, companies utilizing IBM i systems are facing challenges related to the shortage of skilled labor and the retirement of experienced specialists. To mitigate the risk of losing critical institutional knowledge, there is an increasing shift toward managed services. These modular services allow companies to outsource routine IT operations—such as monitoring, backups, and security—to specialized providers, enabling internal teams to focus on innovation and digital transformation.