No right to work from home!

Even in times of COVID German labour law does not give employees an absolute right to work from home - this is what a recent decision of Augsburg's Labour Court maintained.

The employee had presented a medical certificate to the employer and demanded to be allowed to work from home. The Court found that it is the employer's duty to always grant a safe and healthy work environment to employees. In achieving such result the employer does however enjoy ample discretionary powers, allowing employees to work from home being just one of many possibilities.

In practical terms, employers may for instance address the issue by assigning employees individual offices, intriducting shifts to avoid overcrowding, adopting adequate safety measures in open offices etc. etc.