Federal Labor Minister Heil wants to enforce the right to work from home 24 days a year. Many companies are not equipped for this. For them, such a regulation would amount to a huge stress test. Now, of all times, when they are struggling with the consequences of the corona pandemic.
For months, politicians have been trying to stabilize the companies that have stumbled due to the consequences of the corona pandemic with billions in aid and to save them from collapse. The coming months will show whether this will work well in the long term. How many jobs will be destroyed due to the virus despite financial injections and short-time allowance is open. One thing is certain: the federal government could hardly do much more to counter the greatest economic crisis Germany has experienced to date.
And now, of all times, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil is preparing to push through a “Mobile Work Act”. He wants to stipulate that employees – where possible – are allowed to do their daily work mobile on at least 24 days a year. The project threatens to become an own goal.
Yes, the Corona outbreak in spring changed the world of work and accelerated digital work processes – almost overnight. Many companies have sent at least part of their workforce to work from home. The falling demand for office space shows that the trend towards decentralized work for at least a few days a month is likely to continue. Many companies even save money because they have fewer jobs.
Above all, however, small and medium-sized companies caught the legislative proposal in a very critical phase. As a result of the pandemic, they sometimes have to cope with huge drops in sales. Some companies are currently finding it difficult to let their employees work from home. Companies need to change work processes and invest in technology. That devours money that they don't currently have. The planned law will become an unnecessary stress test for them that not all companies will withstand.
In the end, the law that aims to strengthen workers' rights could prove to be a job killer. Well-intentioned is not always good.
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