Obi headquarters cuts 150 jobs

The German DIY market leader Obi is cutting 150 jobs at its central administration and logistics locations in Germany. The employees that this affects have been offered the option to take voluntary redundancy "in order to meet our responsibilities and to minimise the social impact of this necessary corporate decision," according to a press statement from headquarters in Wermelskirchen. Many such offers have already been accepted, according to the company. Obi employs a total of about 3 000 people at its central locations in Germany and about 43 000 internationally.

Within the framework of its strategy for the future, some departments, especially in the area of technology, are to be expanded and new employees are to be hired. Other departments will have to be "more focused" and the company has communicated this transparently, the retailer says.