Deutsche Bank’s financial journal recently published a piece that advocated for an increased tax on remote workers, particularly those who continue working remotely after the pandemic has ended.
According to Luke Templeman, the author of the piece, remote workers are saving on costs due to a lack of commute and more, which would be evened out with the tax. Additionally, he indicates that since remote workers do not contribute much to local economies, this puts them on an even playing field with their in-person counterparts.
While there is no direct evidence that supports this claim, Templeman’s position is right in that the amount of remote workers will likely increase in the next few years.
The paper specifically suggests a 5% tax every day that an employee works remotely, which Templeman says is equal to how much someone would spend on work-related expenses during an in-office day.
However, the tax would have certain exemptions in terms of when it is implemented and who it impacts. For instance, it would only apply to people working from home when it is a viable option. So if employees are being forced to work from home during a pandemic, the tax would not be imposed.
Still, employees that have started working remotely over the past several months have reported increased expenses for electricity, internet connection and home office supplies.
Overall, while Templeman understands that this suggestion is not an overall solution, it has undoubtedly sparked a debate about how remote working could look in the coming years.
