Stefan Wolf | Business lobbyist Wolf: The stinking boot

Stefan Wolf, chief lobbyist for the metal industry and longtime CEO of the automotive supplier ElringKlinger, has long been known for his pithy remarks. The president of the Gesamtmetall (German Metalworkers' Union) recently stated that people in Germany are far too demanding and must finally work harder. In collective bargaining negotiations, the lawyer frequently demanded concessions and threatened job cuts in the event of disobedient union demands.

The 63-year-old appears to practice this attitude that employees' rights are negotiable in his private life as well. For almost three years, he has been investigated for "withholding and embezzling wages." He is now accused of 28 offenses of this kind, which is why he recently received a penal order from the Bad Urach District Court. The reason: He is alleged to have employed a domestic helper for several years without registering her and paying the corresponding social security contributions. The Tübingen public prosecutor's office, however, announced that Wolf has filed an appeal. This means that a main hearing will now take place. A date for this hearing has not yet been set. Wolf declined to comment on the accusation. No information was provided about the amount of the requested penalty.

The manager at ElringKlinger, notorious for his brutal treatment of employees – his most recent annual compensation was five million euros – left the company in mid-2023. The lover of tailored suits and fine restaurants denied that this was related to the investigations against him. Since April 2024, the man, who considers the Green Party a socialist party, has worked as a senior advisor for the Stuttgart-based consulting firm Horváth.