Harburg-Freudenberger: Successful restructuring with HEUKING and "Pathfinder"
HEUKING successfully advised Harburg-Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmbH on the company's transformation.
The parties to the enterprise, management and the works council, reached a comprehensive, socially responsible implementation package through a reconciliation of interests (Interessenausgleich, an agreement between the employer and the works council on the planned operational changes under German law) and a social compensation plan (Sozialplan, a negotiated plan providing for financial and other measures to mitigate the impact of restructuring on affected employees, as required under Sections 111 and 112 of the German Works Constitution Act (Betriebsverfassungsgesetz, "BetrVG")). The package includes, among other things, severance arrangements, supplemental payments for employees in particularly difficult social circumstances, a transfer company (Transfergesellschaft, a transitional employment entity that temporarily employs displaced workers, offering retraining and job-placement support to facilitate reemployment), and a voluntary separation program.
Of particular note is the use of Pathfinder: HEUKING's proprietary digital tool streamlines the administration of complex restructuring programs, making the process transparent and efficient. Through Pathfinder, eligible employees can express their interest in entering into a mutual termination agreement or transferring to the transfer company, while also receiving a clear, individualized overview of their anticipated entitlements.
With the signing of the agreements on August 7, 2026, the works-constitution proceedings under Sections 111 and 112 BetrVG (the statutory provisions requiring employers to negotiate with the works council over significant operational changes and corresponding social compensation measures) were successfully concluded.
The project was led by Dr. Johan-Michel Menke and Dr. Hendrik Völkerding, who served as lead negotiators.
Harburg-Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmbH is part of the Possehl Group, which has been a long-standing client of HEUKING for many years.
A team led by Dr. Eva Kettner and Simon Ahammer developed Pathfinder as a HEUKING in-house tool, making a significant contribution to an efficient, transparent, and administratively streamlined implementation process.
Counsel to Harburg-Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmbH
HEUKING:
Dr. Johan-Michel Menke, LL.M. (Lead Counsel, Employment Law, Hamburg)
Dr. Hendrik Völkerding (Lead Counsel, Employment Law, Hamburg)
