On February 17th, the parties in power (CDU/CSU and FDP) agreed on a bill allowing employees, starting on January 1, 2012, to cut their workweek by 50% to take care of a dependent relative (parent, grandparent, spouse, child) for a maximum of two years while receiving 75% of their salary (see our dispatch No. 110111). According to the Handelsblatt daily, which obtained a copy of the bill, the employees concerned would even be able to cut their working time down to 15 hours a week. However, as announced, the bill doesn’t provide for a legal obligation for businesses, as the Family Minister wanted. The offer will be subject to the company’s consent (which the liberal party defended). Thus, if the company agrees, employees will be able to cut their working time up to 15 hours a week for two years, while receiving 75% of their salary. Once the period is over, they will go back to working full time, but they will only receive 75% of their salary for another two years.
ut their working time down to 15 hours a week. However, as announced, the bill doesn’t provide for a legal obligation for businesses, as the Family Minister wanted.
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