More home office flexibility would save Germany fuel, says DGB

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) has called on more employers to allow flexible work-from-home arrangements amid skyrocketing fuel prices.

Employers must do their bit, says DGB

“Every drop of fuel saved helps,” DGB representative Stefan Körzell told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, “Employers also have to do their bit.” The confederation is calling on employers in Germany to allow flexible working-from-home arrangements for employees, to reduce unnecessary travel and save fuel.

According to the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 24,1 percent of employees in Germany work from home. 13,1 percent work entirely from home, and 11,1 percent work from home more than half the time. In 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, just 12,9 percent of employees worked from home.

“[Employers] should give employees the choice of whether to work in the office or from home. This can cut down on commuting and save money,” Körzell said, adding that employees who must work on site should also be relieved. 

“If the [fuel] crisis persists, we will need to discuss further relief measures for employees.” The DGB boss suggested a mobility stipend or an allowance to pay energy bills as relief measures, and argued that a tax on excess profits would limit companies' ability to price gouge.

New fuel price rules took effect on April 1

The CDU/CSU-SPD government has already taken one step to limit skyrocketing fuel prices since the US and Israel began attacks on Iran and Lebanon. 

The attacks have driven up fuel prices because traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping pathway for one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, has been disrupted since February 28.

Since April 1, fuel stations in Germany are only permitted to raise fuel prices once per day, but may reduce prices an unlimited number of times. But there is no obligation to reduce prices.

Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) said the policy should counter the “rocket and feather effect”, whereby “costs extremely quickly, the rocket, and then sink again amid falling costs only very slowly, the feather”.