An employee is usually insured at their workplace, so how does it work when the workplace isn't accessible anymore? What happens if the employee falls while moving from their kitchen to the room in which their work computer is based, ergo, their workplace while at home?
Schimberg confirmed that if a person is insured at their workplace, they should be insured during their working hours if they were to have an accident.
In principle, the same applies at home as it does to the workplace, but a certain condition must be met. This condition derives from an agreement between workers' unions and the government, which stipulates that it must be put in writing in the employment contract that the employee can work from home and, in principle also, the days when it is authorised.
However, the pandemic has forced record numbers of people to rely on teleworking. Although this was implemented pragmatically, Schimberg said it would be ideal if employers could review their contracts to allow for these extenuating circumstances.
A question which often arises with regard to working from home is whether employees need to physically be present at their home, or if they can work from their partner's home, or while on holiday abroad. The rules are the same here as they are for the commute between their home and the office. The place of work must either be the employee's home or their secondary residence. If they are not registered at the address, they will have to prove they are regularly at the place where they are carrying out telework.
For this reason, Schimberg recommended going over employment contracts and asking employers if there are uncertainties.
That's why it's always best to go through your contract with your employer and ask questions if you are unsure.
