A German court has decided that walking two feet from the bed to the home office is considered an insured work route. The insurance company must pay workplace injury compensation to the employee, in one of the strangest judicial rulings in labor cases, according to the Washington Post.
In detail, a man fell and broke his back while descending a spiral staircase from his bedroom to his home office, but the insurance from his employer refused to cover the accident expenses. However, last Wednesday, the Federal Social Court ruled that "the first morning trip from the bed to the home office is considered an insured work journey."
The Washington Post notes that the decision highlights broader issues worldwide where companies struggle with the ongoing implementation of remote work systems in some countries. In this German case, the court stated that if an accident occurs in the home of the insured person "or elsewhere," insurance coverage is provided "to the same extent" as it would be at the company's premises.
The court pointed out that the man "starts working (in his home office) immediately without having breakfast beforehand." He went down the stairs "to start work," and thus what happened was "in the interest of the employer." Companies in many countries have directed their employees to adopt remote work systems to protect public health and ensure the highest levels of safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some companies continue to implement this system with the emergence of the new Omicron variant.
