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Woman in the home office: In the future, anyone who wants to go to the office will have to present reasons
Photo: imago images / Westend61
Since January employers have had to offer home offices wherever possible.
This obligation, previously set out in the Corona Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, is now becoming law - and stricter for employees.
The rule, which will be anchored in the Infection Protection Act in the future, is intended to increase the pressure on employees to use an option offered by the employer to work from home.
The regulations for home office "are being refined and incorporated into the Infection Protection Act," said Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD).
With the inclusion in the Infection Protection Act, according to the ministry, there is now an additional obligation for employees to accept the offer of home office, as long as there are no reasons to the contrary.
Reasons could, for example, be a disruption by a third party in the home office or a lack of an adequate workplace.
The new regulation is to come into force together with the other innovations of the Infection Protection Act such as the "emergency brake" that the Bundestag wants to pass today.
Two tests per week should become standard in companies
Heil also wants to tighten the obligation for companies to offer corona tests, which has been in force since this week, and has initiated the agreed expansion of corona rapid tests in the workplace in the cabinet.
The ministers took note of the corresponding draft amendment to the OSH Ordinance.
This obliges employers in their companies to offer all employees who do not work exclusively in the home office at least two tests per week.
"In this way, infections should be detected even better, contagions avoided and business closures prevented," said Heil.
As of this week, the rule has been that at least one test is offered per week.
An obligation to offer two tests was originally foreseen only for special employment groups, including those with a lot of customer contact.
There is only an obligation to make an offer, there is no obligation to test for employees.
There should also be no documentation requirement.
apr / Reuters