The agricultural machinery industry is facing tough times, and demand for combine harvesters across Europe has dropped significantly. The John Deere factory in Zweibrücken, Germany, which has been manufacturing harvesters since the 1960s, is feeling the impact. Instead of laying off workers, the company has introduced a voluntary exit plan designed to benefit both employees and the company.
According to Saarländischen Rundfunk (Radio Saar), John Deere is offering employees a unique opportunity: they can take a leave of absence for two to four years with severance pay and a guaranteed job upon return.
“The offer was mostly accepted by young employees or almost exclusively by our former trainees who finished their apprenticeships just a year ago.” – Mark Möller, Vice Chairman of the factory’s works council, told Saarländischen Rundfunk.
This approach allows workers to avoid the uncertainty of job cuts and reduced working hours, which many competitors are facing. At the same time, it enables John Deere to retain its skilled workforce for when market conditions improve.
A Factory with Deep Roots in Germany
The Zweibrücken plant has a long history of producing combines for John Deere. The factory was built in the 1960s, but its location was no coincidence. Zweibrücken had been home to the Wery agricultural machinery plant since the 19th century, later acquired by Lanz in the 1930s. In 1956, Deere & Co. fully absorbed Lanz AG, taking over its facilities along Homburger Straße and constructing the modern factory.
The plant’s first major product, the MD 150 S combine harvester, rolled out in 1964. This machine could thresh around 1.5 tons of grain per hour and was powered by a Volkswagen air-cooled gasoline engine with 29 horsepower. Its cutting width was just 1.8 meters—a far cry from today’s advanced John Deere models.
In 2024, the factory celebrated a major milestone: the production of its 150,000th combine, a brand-new John Deere S7. Just a year earlier, in March 2023, workers marked another achievement—the manufacturing of the 20,000th self-propelled forage harvester in Zweibrücken.
A Smart Workforce Solution
John Deere’s voluntary exit plan serves multiple purposes. On one hand, it provides workers with a chance to upskill and explore new career paths. On the other, it helps the company manage its workforce without resorting to layoffs or part-time shifts. In today’s job market, finding qualified and experienced employees is a challenge, and management is keen to ensure that when demand picks up again, they won’t be left scrambling for skilled labor.
Young Workers See Opportunity
One notable case is that of 25-year-old Maurice Cornelisse, a mechatronics engineer who took advantage of the program.
“I’m still young. I took the initiative and decided to go for it. Right now, I’m continuing my education to become a technician in Kaiserslautern.” – Maurice Cornelisse shared with German media.
After earning his mechatronics engineering degree, Maurice worked at the Zweibrücken plant for six months before opting into the program. His plan? Use this time to further his education and then enjoy some well-earned travel before returning to his job.
“I said to myself: ‘Okay, I’ll step away for three years, do what I want, and then come back to a secure job.’ Honestly, why not?” – Maurice Cornelisse.
John Deere’s approach stands out as an innovative way to handle workforce challenges during an economic downturn. Instead of job cuts, they’re investing in the future—both for the company and for their employees.
