Both last year and this spring, Germany was in lockdown. A large number of businesses, especially retail stores, restaurants and hotels, were therefore forced to close for extended periods. Many employers sent their employees into short-time work and the employees received short-time allowance. In some cases, however, it was not possible to order short-time work or to receive short-time allowance (e.g. in the case of marginally employed workers). In these cases, the question arose whether the already financially strapped employers had to continue to pay their employees. The Federal Labor Court has now issued a pleasing ruling for employers.
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