A little friendliness at the beginning: In times of crisis, it’s good to think unconventionally. Unfortunately, that’s all that can be said that’s nice about the latest idea from North Rhine-Westphalia’s Economics Minister, Andreas Pinkwart. The FDP politician proposes sending employees back to their home offices in autumn so that less heating is required in the offices. This should reduce gas consumption. It’s hard to imagine that Pinkwart really doesn’t realize how cynical that is.
Apart from the fact that one must at least question whether the calculation of the large savings would really add up in the end, one must note that the financial burden thus shifted from the companies to their employees. Which, as Pinkwart imagines, should heat their home offices with electric heaters if necessary. It won’t be cheap.
In politics, in exceptional situations, there is a great temptation to bring about developments that you have always wanted anyway – always with reference to the unfortunately, unfortunately difficult current situation. Now the situation with the war in Ukraine and the insecure gas supply is undoubtedly an almost incomprehensible crisis. All the greater is the obligation not to use the situation immediately for other projects, such as permanently shifting the costs for work infrastructure from companies to employees. The Corona crisis made it attractive to many companies: less heating, smaller office space, it’s a good deal for employers. Usually not for the employees.
Pinkwart isn’t the only one attracting attention these days with dubious suggestions. The tourism industry suggested relocating seniors to Turkey over the winter, with state support, of course. That would reduce gas consumption!
Big problems need big and, yes, maybe also unconventional solutions. However, they must not be used as an excuse for ill-considered and unfair measures.