In Thailand, for example, the government instructed authorities and state-owned companies to allow employees to work from home if possible without public access. Vietnam also took similar steps and also called for restrictions on private car journeys.

The background is concerns about scarce energy supplies. Due to disrupted delivery routes in the Gulf region Some countries fear shortages of oil and fuel. Countries with low reserves in particular are therefore trying to reduce consumption as much as possible.

Many commuters in Germany are now wondering whether they should too because of rising fuel prices work at home may.

This means: Employees have to make their own arrangements about how they get to work – even if travel costs increase. Without appropriate provisions in the employment contract or in a company agreement, you cannot simply decide to work from home.

Home office must always be agreed between employer and employee. Alternatively, an arrangement could be made with the works council, if there is one.

Grants are also not mandatory

According to the lawyer, there is no obligation for employers to provide additional support in this case. “The employer is neither obliged to pay a subsidy nor to allow work from home,” said Hautumm to “RP Online”.

What this means for commuters is that anyone who continues to drive to work will generally have to bear the higher costs themselves.

Working from abroad is also not a given

The situation is similar when employees consider doing their work from abroad at short notice. There is no automatic entitlement to this either.

“Whether someone works on site or in the home office is generally agreed between employer and employee,” explains Paul Degott, a travel law specialist, told FOCUS online. If the technical requirements are available, home office could be a solution – but it is not mandatory for employers.