Law passed to improve the compatibility of family and career

BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – The Bundestag has decided on a package of measures intended to make it easier to combine family and work. The law passed late Thursday evening primarily provides for additional obligations for employers. They have to decide within four weeks if employees want to take time off to care for a relative. Protection against dismissal will be introduced for the period of release. In addition, a rejection of the application must be justified, just as with parents who want to reduce their working hours during parental leave, but are not allowed to do so./ax/DP/jha