Accidents at work in the home office: New aspects for statutory accident insurance

Accidents at work in the home office: New aspects for statutory accident insurance

According to a report by www.merkur.de,

The trend towards working from home remains unbroken, which raises new questions about protection in statutory accident insurance. Statutory accident insurance in Germany is responsible for work-related accidents, which also include commuting accidents. This insurance offers benefits such as higher benefits and injury compensation in the event of an accident at work. However, the recognition of home office accidents as work accidents is controversial, although the law has now made it clear that home office accidents are insured while carrying out work activities.

Current case law suggests that work accidents in the home office can be accepted, as in a case by the Federal Social Court in 2022, which recognized an accident on the way to work in the home office. Another case from the Schwerin Social Court also recognized an accident while working from home as an accident at work.

The new regulations and case law have the potential to impact the market by causing employers and employees to reconsider their insurance policies and home office work practices. It could also impact the accident insurance industry as the number and type of work-related accidents covered change. There could also be changes for consumers, as recognizing home office accidents as work-related accidents could affect their entitlements and benefits.