Caring for relatives: Can I take time off work?
A member suddenly requires care, it can be both time-consuming and emotionally challenging for employees to meet their professional obligations. Can employees allow themselves to be excused in such a case?
Approximately five million care-dependent individuals exist in Germany. Most of them are cared for at home - by family members, close friends, or neighbors.
And whether due to an accident, a stroke, or illness: people can become care-dependent suddenly. A burdensome situation for family members. Moreover, the question arises: What about my job when I am burdened with the care of a family member?
Employees can take up to ten working days off per calendar year for acute care situations, as explained by Josephine Klose, legal advisor at the Bremen Chamber of Labor.
Longer Leave for Caring for Family Members is Possible
But do employees receive their salary during this time? As Klose explains in the BAM magazine (July/August issue), there is an entitlement to care allowance, provided the employer is not already obligated to pay wages due to contractual, collective bargaining, or statutory regulations. Care allowance can be claimed by close relatives at the statutory health insurance or the private long-term care insurance of the dependent person and usually amounts to 90% of the lost net income.
If it turns out that the care of a close relative is necessary for an extended period, employees can partially take leave from work for caring for family members under certain conditions - with a minimum average weekly working hours of 15 hours.
The Care Leave Act allows for a full release from work for the duration of six months, given the required conditions. The legal advisor further explains. Care leave and long-term care leave can seamlessly overlap and then be claimed for a maximum of 24 months. According to the information provided, a special protection against dismissal applies in both cases.
- Some companies offer long-term care insurance as a benefit to their employees, which can help alleviate the financial burden of caregiving for parents or other family members.
- The Taxpayers' Association has been advocating for employers to offer more support for employees who have to take time off to care for family members, citing the costs for care as a burden on taxpayers.
- As an advisor, I often recommend employers consider implementing a care system that allows employees to balance their professional obligations with their familial responsibilities, such as offering flexible work arrangements or providing resources for accessing long-term care insurance.
- The cost of long-term care can be prohibitively expensive for many families, leading some parents to choose to retire early or rely on their children for care rather than pay for professional services.
- Implementing a comprehensive care system at the workplace can help improve employee morale, productivity, and retention, as well as demonstrate the employer's commitment to supporting their employees during challenging times in their personal lives.
