Law & occupational safety
Is an accident in the home office a workplace accident?
Whether an accident counts as a workplace accident depends on its connection to the insured activity – not on the location alone. German courts decide case by case, particularly where work and private tasks interlock.
Statutory accident insurance attaches to the insured activity. An accident during work-related activity can be covered; a purely private task in between is not. Borderline cases such as trips to get food are judged differently.
For employers this means: home office accidents must be reported and documented exactly as office accidents. A solid risk assessment reduces accident risk and strengthens the evidence position.
Key points
- Coverage follows the insured activity, not the place
- Borderline cases are decided individually by the courts
- Reporting and documentation as in the office
This page provides professional orientation, not legal or tax advice.
More answers
- What is the difference between home office, telework and mobile work?
- Is a risk assessment mandatory for home office work?
- What fines apply for missing occupational safety in home offices?
- Do employees in Germany have a right to work from home?
- Does the works council co-determine remote work?
- Must working time be recorded when working from home?