25 March 2020 – Expanded short-time work compensation

Intervention Categories: Finance policy and financial aid; Stimulus packages and financial support
Level of Jurisdiction: National

Overview: If companies have to reduce the working hours of their employees due to supply bottlenecks or an officially ordered closure, employees can receive short-time work compensation. In this way, the Federal Employment Agency compensates part of their loss of earnings. The employer must apply for short-time work compensation.

With retroactive effect from March 1, access to short-time work compensation has been simplified: it is sufficient for a company to apply for short-time work if 10 percent of a company’s employees are affected by lost work.

Previously, one third of the employees had to be affected. In addition, social security contributions are now fully reimbursed by the Federal Employment Agency.
Full details here: https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/themen/corona-pandemie/finanzielle-unterstuetzung