Worker Grievances Up 32% — Here's Why That's adidas' Biggest WOVO Milestone Yet

A Labor Solutions Case Study | adidas 2025 Sustainability Report

More Complaints, Same 99% Resolution Rate: Why Volume Growth Is the Metric adidas Wanted

When grievance volumes rise, most brands get nervous. At adidas, a 32% increase is a sign the system is working. In 2025, workers submitted close to 47,200 complaints

through WOVO — up from 35,700 in 2024 — and 99% were resolved by year-end. Higher volume, same near-perfect resolution rate: that is proof of trust, not a problem.

Satisfaction Rose From 39% to 79% in Six Years — and the Trajectory Is Still Improving

Worker satisfaction with grievance resolution has risen from 39% in 2019 to nearly 79% in 2025 — a 40-point transformation over six years of consistent WOVO investment. Average response time fell from 49 hours in 2020 to under 11 hours in 2025. Workers who raise a concern today can expect a response in less than half a business day.

The Supplier Base Shrank. Worker Coverage Didn't. 402,500 Workers Still Have Full Access.

In 2025, more than 402,500 workers across 92 manufacturing facilities in ten countries had access to WOVO — covering 100% of adidas' core Tier 1 manufacturing partners. The reduction from 105 facilities in 2024 reflects value chain consolidation, not a reduction in WOVO coverage.

From Miscommunication to Missing Benefits: The Everyday Concerns Workers Finally Have a Channel For

The 47,200 grievances in 2025 spanned internal communication (~13,300 cases), benefits (~8,300), and general facilities (~5,800). These are the everyday friction points that go unvoiced when workers don't trust the channel — and that quietly erode morale and retention when left unaddressed. The 99% resolution rate means nearly every complaint gets closed; the 79% satisfaction rate means workers find the outcomes fair.

91% Favorable Across 96 Facilities: How adidas Listens Before Problems Escalate

The Worker Pulse survey ran across 96 facilities in 13 countries in 2025, with favorable responses reaching nearly 91% — up from 78% in 2020. The Gender Equality survey reached 51,000 workers with an average favorable score of 87/100. Together with the

grievance mechanism, these create a three-channel listening infrastructure: reactive, proactive, and targeted.

Every Complaint Feeds a Supplier KPI: How Worker Voice Becomes Management Consequence

adidas does not treat WOVO data as a reporting metric — it treats it as an operational input. Grievance satisfaction ratings, response time data, and KPI dashboards feed directly into adidas' supplier social impact (S-KPI) rating. Workers who use WOVO know that what they say influences how their factory is rated.

Six CSDDD Requirements. Six Data Points. An Evidence Base Built Over Six Years.

CSDDD requires access to remedy that is effective, not just available. adidas' 2025 model: Accessible (402,500+ workers), Used (47,200 grievances), Trusted (79% satisfaction), Fast (<11 hours), Measured (supplier KPIs), Proactive (Worker Pulse + Gender Equality surveys). This is the standard CSDDD expects — and a

didas has built an evidence base showing consistent improvement year over year.

Ready to build a program like this?

Contact Labor Solutions to discuss how WOVO can support your due diligence and worker engagement program.

Source: adidas 2025 Annual Sustainability Report (ESRS S2). All data drawn from adidas' public disclosures.