It will be easier for employees whose employer is in a different country to their place of residence: you can now benefit from easier conditions for working from home.
Facilitation for employees whose employer is in a different country than their place of residence: In future they will be able to work from home more than before – and this will not change anything in their social security obligations. That says a new agreement between Germany and several other countries.
The central association of health insurance companies welcomed the regulation. This represents a simplification of social security law for those affected, said a spokesman for the dpa news agency in Berlin. “This means, for example, that an employee of a German company living in France can work from home about two days a week without having to fear losing their German social security.”
Up to 50 percent home office possible
So far, the social insurance of the country of residence has taken effect if the employee there works more than 25 percent in the home office. The agreement has now permanently increased this limit to 50 percent. Upon request, the social security of the employer’s state can also continue to apply to home office of up to 50 percent. The regulation is linked to a special regulation of the corona pandemic and has been in effect since July 1st.
Denmark doesn’t play along
According to the association, 17 countries have signed the convention in addition to Germany, including all neighboring countries – except Denmark. According to the association, around 65,000 people commute from Germany to work in Switzerland, 52,000 in Luxembourg and 43,000 in the Netherlands. According to this, almost 69,000 people from Poland, 36,000 from France and 34,000 from the Czech Republic are employers in Germany.
Large companies offer more home offices
According to a survey published yesterday by the Munich ifo Institute, 61 percent of companies in Germany offer the option of working from home. On average, they enable their employees to work from home 6.4 days a month. However, there are big differences between large and small companies.