Sick

450 jobs
Number of planned job losses

Announcement Date

16 April 2026

Employment effect (start)

1 January 2026

Foreseen end date

31 December 2026

Description

Sick, a German technology company that designs and manufactures sensors and automation solutions, announced the reduction of 500 jobs across several sites in Germany. The cuts will affect locations in Waldkirch, Reute, Freiburg, Donaueschingen, Karlsruhe and Hamburg, with the first layoffs already occurring in January. The company, which employs 5,000 people, cited the need to lower costs amid changing competitive conditions to improve profitability. The restructuring is an internal restructuring driven by cost optimisation, and will commence in early 2026, with the full programme concluding by the end of the year. Negotiations between the company and the works council are currently ongoing.

Sickl stated that it aims to implement the job reduction scheme in a socially responsible manner. The trade union IG Metall criticized the decision and emphasized that the long term future of the company could not be secured by job cuts.

Updated, 05/08/2026 At the beginning of August 2026, SICK reached an agreement with its works council on the final number of job cuts and a social plan. According to the agreement, 450 positions will now be eliminated instead of the previously announced 500. Of these, 220 positions will be reduced through natural attrition and retirements, while the remaining 230 positions will be removed through targeted workforce adjustments. Affected employees will receive severance payments and support with career transition services.