Changes in working from home in Germany are on the horizon. Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the work culture in Germany has significantly transformed. Employees suddenly had to adapt to working from home.
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As a result, they discovered the benefits of this work arrangement. Employers, in turn, realized that work could be effectively carried out from a home office. What is the legal situation with home offices, and what rules will be applied in 2024?
Important changes that will occur with home-based work in Germany in 2024
Since 2019, the Federal Ministry of Labour has been trying to pass a new law that gives employees a fundamental right to work from home.
While such a right has existed in the Netherlands since 2015, there is currently no legal regulation for it in Germany.
Only a more stringent Infection Protection Act during the pandemic required employers to allow home office work from November 2020, provided there were no operational reasons against it. With the lifting of pandemic measures, this right was revoked.
Now, working people have to negotiate with their superiors about resuming work from home. Current statistics from the main office are skewed due to the pandemic.
It is estimated that nearly a third of the working population worked from home during the quarantine, but this number dropped again after the measures ended.
Although the Federal Ministry of Labour continues to fight for the adoption of a home office work law, reality will likely suppress it. The shortage of skilled workers plays a decisive role in this.
Employees who have learned to appreciate working from home can no longer negotiate on this matter. If they are denied the opportunity to work from home, they will have to accept it. Otherwise, they will have to look for a new job.
A study conducted in Germany by Cisco and Civey, according to Businessinsider, showed that 13% of the surveyed employees would look for a new job if they were denied the right to work from home in 2024.
Companies have realized that they will lose in the battle for the most talented employees if they do not offer suitable conditions.
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Despite the lack of a legal regulation for remote work, the demand for home offices remains high among German employees due to the benefits experienced during the pandemic. Highly skilled workers might seek new jobs if their current employers deny them the right to work from home in 2024, as revealed in a study by Cisco and Civey. Salaries in Germany could potentially be influenced by this trend, as companies aim to retain their most talented employees by offering suitable remote work conditions.
Despite the potential legal developments, current regulations in Germany do not guarantee a fundamental right to work from home for employees. This lack of legal regulation has led to employees having to negotiate with their superiors to continue working remotely, with nearly a third of the workforce opting for home office during the pandemic. However, the shortage of skilled workers and the competitive job market may influence salaries in Germany, as companies aim to retain their top talents by offering suitable remote work conditions. Therefore, while salaries in Germany may be impacted by this trend, the prevalence of 'Salaries in Germany' in the job market remains unaffected.
