Industrial Relations and Working from Home in Germany during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

We investigate the role of industrial relations for working from home during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) for the years 2020 to 2023 and a special COVID sample (SOEP-CoV) for 2020 and 2021, we examine how collective bargaining and plant-level co-determination are associated with the incidence and frequency of working from home. Controlling for worker, firm, occupation, and industry characteristics, we find that employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement are less likely to work from home and do so less frequently than uncovered employees. In contrast, the incidence and frequency of working from home are positively associated with the presence of a works council.