Seasonal short-time work compensation as a strategic advantage in the construction industry
For companies in the construction industry, seasonal short-time work compensation (Saison-KUG) is the critical tool for bridging work absences. It is specifically designed for the bad weather period from December to March and takes precedence over economic short-time work compensation. Eligible are companies in the main construction trades, scaffolders, roofers, as well as gardening and landscaping. The key advantage: Seasonal short-time work compensation is granted not only for weather-related absences but also for economic ones such as a lack of orders. For employers, the regulation is nearly cost-neutral, as social security contributions for the hours lost are also reimbursed. This makes it a powerful tool to safeguard the future of your company. However, the correct application and documentation are crucial for success.
Precisely meet the requirements for receiving short-time work compensation
To receive short-time work compensation, companies must demonstrate a significant and unavoidable work absence. A work absence is considered significant if at least one-third of the employees are affected by a wage loss of more than 10% of their monthly gross wages. An absence is only unavoidable if the company has taken all reasonable efforts to avert it, such as reducing overtime. The following points are essential for the application:
- Significant work absence: At least one-third of the workforce must be affected.
- Unavoidability: All other options, such as vacation or reduction of working time credits, must have been exhausted.
- Operational requirements: At least one employee subject to social security must be employed in the company.
- Notification to the Employment Agency: The work absence must be reported to the responsible Employment Agency in the month the short-time work begins.
The complete documentation of these requirements is the foundation for a successful approval. Insufficient documentation can lead to rejection and significant financial risks for the construction industry. Therefore, a systematic approach to recording working hours is essential.
Minimize the administrative burden of documentation
Managing short-time work poses a significant burden on the office. For each employee, the hours lost must be accurately recorded and documented in billing lists for the Employment Agency. This manual process is not only time-consuming but also extremely error-prone. Incorrect information can lead to recourse claims and legal consequences. Preparing the monthly applications and the associated evidence ties up valuable resources that are lacking elsewhere in the company. A digital solution can reduce this effort by over 50% while increasing accuracy. The challenge is to find a solution that is accepted by employees on the construction site and does not require extensive training. This highlights the importance of a simple and intuitive solution against the skilled labor shortage even in administration.
Easily and legally manage short-time work with Valoon
This is where Valoon comes in, transforming a complex, paper-based process into a simple, digital workflow. Employees on the construction site record their working hours as usual via WhatsApp—without needing to install or learn a new app. This data flows automatically and structurally into the Valoon system in the office. There, the regular working hours and the hours lost for short-time work are calculated and categorized automatically. The system generates legally secure evidence and the necessary lists for application to the Employment Agency at the push of a button.
- Automatic time recording: Employees simply report their times via WhatsApp.
- Legally secure documentation: All data is stored securely and is retrievable at any time.
- Efficient billing: The system automatically generates the necessary documents for the Employment Agency.
- No training required: Using WhatsApp ensures 100% acceptance on the construction site.
This automated process minimizes not only the administrative effort but also eliminates sources of error and ensures compliance with all legal requirements. Thus, the development of the construction industry is driven forward by digital efficiency.
Conclusion: Your advantage with Valoon
The introduction of short-time work is a strategic step to bridge economically difficult phases and retain your most valuable asset—your employees. However, the administrative jungle of time sheets, applications, and evidence need not slow you down. With Valoon, you digitize the entire process chain from time tracking on the construction site to billing in the office. You save valuable time, reduce costs, and above all gain: legal certainty. Focus back on your core business while Valoon simplifies the administration. Book your free demo now and discover how Valoon simplifies your processes.
More Links
Wikipedia provides general information on the topic of short-time work.
Die The Federal Employment Agency provides detailed information on the various forms of short-time work compensation as well as on notification, applications, and calculations.
Das The Federal Statistical Office provides official statistics on short-time work.
Die The Federal Employment Agency offers a PDF document on the current job market situation in the construction industry.
Der The Main Association of the German Construction Industry informs in an article about the weak start to the year 2024.
Der The Central Association of the German Construction Industry provides information on securing skilled labor in the construction industry.
Der The Main Association of the German Construction Industry provides a business report as a PDF document.
Das The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) offers comprehensive information on short-time work compensation.
Das The Federal Ministry of Finance displays a chart on economic short-time work in its monthly report.
FAQ
How does Valoon simplify the application for short-time work compensation?
Valoon automates the recording of work and absence hours directly via WhatsApp. The data is stored centrally and legally secured, allowing the billing lists and evidence required for the Employment Agency to be generated at the push of a button. This minimizes manual effort and prevents errors.
Is the documentation created with Valoon legally secure?
Yes, all data recorded via Valoon is stored securely and in compliance with GDPR. The generated documents meet the requirements of the Employment Agency for the application and billing of short-time work compensation and serve as complete evidence.
Do my employees need to learn new software?
No, that is the key advantage of Valoon. Your construction site employees continue to use WhatsApp, an application they already know and use daily. No installation of a new app and no training is required, ensuring acceptance within the team.
What happens if the order situation does not improve after the bad weather period?
If the work absence continues after the end of the seasonal short-time work period (after March), economic short-time work compensation can be seamlessly applied for. The work absence must be reported again to the Employment Agency.
What costs are reimbursed under seasonal short-time work compensation?
The Employment Agency reimburses the short-time work compensation paid to employees (60% or 67% of the net wage loss). Additionally, companies receive full reimbursement for the social security contributions for the hours lost, making the measure nearly cost-neutral for businesses.
Can I terminate employees during short-time work?
The goal of short-time work is to avoid terminations. Although terminations due to operational reasons are possible, terminated employees no longer have a right to short-time work compensation.
