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Status: 10/12/2022 8:52 a.m
As a contribution to saving energy, some experts are in favor of working from home more often. But how big can the effect actually be? And who ultimately pays for the higher heating costs?
Temperatures are falling and energy prices are skyrocketing. Saving is therefore the mantra of this winter. Nobody believes that energy prices will fall again significantly in the medium term. On the contrary: In order to be able to pay the gas and electricity bills for the coming winter, people in Germany will have to dig deeper into their pockets.
The same applies to companies and municipalities, which is why the focus has recently shifted to a topic that was previously more associated with the pandemic: working from home. Energy should be saved in Germany by people working at home. In view of the energy crisis, politicians have been discussing the topic for some time. But does working from home really use less energy overall in Germany? And can my employer send me to work from home to save?
“A zero-sum game when it comes to space heating requirements”
For Rudolf Friedrich from the University of Applied Sciences in Saarbrücken, this question depends on the point of view. “When we talk about space heating requirements – i.e. gas for heating – it balances out when it comes to saving energy. For example, if someone turns off the heating in their individual office and heats their study at home,” says the scientist.
For example, the energy savings in the administration offices of a municipality in an old, non-refurbished building are very high. On the other hand, there are also many modern buildings owned by employers and many old buildings in the private sector. “Means: When it comes to space heating requirements, I see more of a zero-sum game when it comes to saving through home office.”
Real fuel savings
The energy expert sees real savings in commuter traffic. In Germany, around 20 million people commuted to their workplace, covering an average of around 18 kilometers. Of these, about 67 percent used the car, according to Friedrich. “If we assume – based on pandemic figures – that 25 percent of them would work from home one day a week, then we would save the equivalent of 200 million liters of fuel per year. That corresponds to around 540,000 tons of greenhouse gas saved could.”
Other experts like Claudia Kemfert from the German Institute for Economic Development see it similarly. She, too, focused primarily on the reduced energy costs for transport to the workplace.
Only possible with mutual consent
From the consumer’s point of view, however, another question arises when it comes to working from home in times of the energy crisis. Because of the enormous increase in gas and electricity prices, there will be significantly higher costs this winter when people work more at home. So what if employees don’t want to work from home at all, but the employer wants to save energy?
From a purely legal point of view, the situation is clear. Because working from home is generally only possible with the consent of both parties, as Saarbrücken-based employment lawyer Marwin Roth knows. “This means that if the employer would like to prescribe working from home in order to save energy, this is only possible with the consent of the employees. The employer cannot enforce working from home on his own, it is also not enforceable under labor law,” says Roth.
This also applies vice versa if an employee wants to work more or completely from home. “The employer must also agree to this or it must be regulated in the employment contract.”
Who pays the additional costs?
But even if both sides agree on increased home office activities, the question remains: Who actually pays for the additional energy that is consumed when working at home and the additional charge that consumers face, in particular due to the enormous increase in energy costs?
Currently, employees can still claim five euros per working day for tax purposes – but limited to 120 days per year. “The 600 euros are not enough in any case,” says labor lawyer Roth.
Home office flat rate increased
This rate was recently raised from a maximum of 600 euros spread over 120 days by the federal government to 200 days and 1000 euros. The change should take effect from January 2023.
However: The lump sum is one of the income-related expenses, for which all taxpayers are credited 1200 euros anyway. Only those who get over this amount with a home office flat rate and other expenses benefit. The increase is not enough for the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB). He calls for the home office flat rate to be increased to 1,500 euros.
Corona has established home office
Whether or not employees will increasingly work from home in the coming winter for reasons of savings must ultimately be negotiated and agreed with the employer. A survey by the ifo Institute shows that working from home has long been established in Germany, regardless of flat rates and potential savings. According to this, people work at home for an average of 1.4 days a week in this country. The reason for this is the pandemic. Corona has therefore permanently changed working conditions.