Corona tests, mask requirement, home office: That will change for employees on March 20th

Created: 03/13/2022, 06:58

The mask is now part of everyday office life.

For how much longer?

© Westend61/imago

Despite the increasing corona numbers, many protective measures should be lifted at the beginning of spring on March 20th, including for employers and employees.

That is changing in companies.

Berlin – The number of infections is currently increasing daily.

Nevertheless, Germany wants to celebrate a small “Freedom Day” on March 20th.

Many corona rules should fall just in time for the beginning of spring.

This also has an impact on companies and how they deal with the pandemic.

The draft regulation of the Federal Ministry of Labor describes the extent to which the relaxation of the rules on March 20th will change work in German companies.

As the German Press Agency reports, citing the present draft, it is intended that employers themselves assess the risk of the corona virus and define appropriate measures in a company hygiene concept.

Relaxation of the Corona rules on March 20th: What applies in companies?

Employers should also take regional infection rates into account.

According to the draft, they should then check whether they offer employees a corona test per week, whether they provide protective masks and whether employees should work from home.

In the future, companies should also decide for themselves on protective measures such as distance and hygiene rules or the obligation to wear a mask.

Up to and including March 19, employers are still obliged to offer tests in their companies at least twice a week.

Where other measures do not provide sufficient protection, there is currently also a mask requirement.

In addition to these rules, company 3G regulations apply, according to which employees must carry proof of vaccinations, convalescence or test certificates.

Working from home is mandatory if the type of work allows it.

Video: Corona rule loosening at the beginning of spring under criticism

Corona rules on the test bench: This is how it goes on now

It is planned that the new regulation will be passed in the cabinet on Wednesday (March 16).

A controversial draft law by Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) and Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) is also to be discussed for the first time in the Bundestag on Wednesday, which provides for the elimination of most nationwide corona protection requirements.

The number of infections has been increasing for days, on Saturday the 7-day incidence was 1496 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants;

there were 237,086 newly registered corona infections and 249 corona-related deaths.

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Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD) said: “We must continue to work together to ensure that the workplace does not become a place of infection.” Therefore, basic protective measures should also be maintained here.