23.03.2020 News
Oppenhoff forms task force to update clients on legal issues related to the corona crisis
On 13 March, Oppenhoff & Partner set up a Corona Task Force to bundle the relevant know-how in the current situation and to be able to efficiently handle the increasing number of client questions. "Short-time work, safeguarding liquidity through subsidy programs, among other things, the emerging disruption of supply chains and the possibilities of rent reductions in the non-key sector retail trade are the issues that are currently pressing," says Jörn Kuhn, partner in the employment law department of Oppenhoff & Partner and Task Force member.
Short-time work: Despite the fact that the relevant decree has not yet been issued following the amendment to the law on crisis-related short-time work compensation, companies should already report short-time work this month. The labor law basis - employment contract, shop agreement or collective bargaining agreement - is of key importance to be able to order short-time work. Without such basis, there is no possibility of receiving short-time work compensation. Besides this, there are many emerging issues on its implementation, i.e. what about planned wage increases and new hires?
Liquidity: Many companies are focusing on securing liquidity. To this end, various aid packages have been put together at Federal and federal state level. The EU Commission has also facilitated state aid. Furthermore, non-repayable emergency aid has also been envisaged for smaller eco-nomic operators.
Insolvency risk: Many companies are finding themselves in a situation in which their very existence is threatened. For those who were already ailing before the corona crisis, the current crisis is acting as a catalyst. With the announced suspension of the obligation to file for insolvency, the legislator has taken an important step towards taking some of the pressure off companies.
Other topics include employers’ obligations, for example with regard to home office and data protection, as well as possible tax deferrals or the adjustment of advance tax payments to further secure liquidity.
"We are in the most serious crisis since the Second World War as far as public life is concerned," says Dr. Gilbert Wurth, Oppenhoff's spokesman. "We want to do our part to prevent this pandemic from having a lasting impact as an economic crisis."
Since the beginning of last week, the majority of Oppenhoff & Partner’s employees have them-selves been working from home. Gilbert Wurth: "We are, of course, simultaneously doing our bit to minimize the number of new infections. Even from our home offices, we can continue to offer our clients the advice and service they expect from us. At the same time, we hope that we will soon be able to resume our personal meetings with clients.”
An overview of the areas of our advice related to the corona crisis can be found here.
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