In this article, we shed light on the status of working students in relation to WorkFlex.

While rules may vary depending on the country, working students in Germany occupy a unique position in a company workforce, balancing academic commitments with professional responsibilities. This dual role often raises questions about their rights and entitlements, especially regarding access to employee benefits such as Workflex, which allows for flexibility in their daily job (including opportunities for semesters abroad). The question of whether dual students (those enrolled in cooperative education programs) are eligible for these benefits under the same conditions as regular employees is crucial for ensuring fairness and consistency when using the platform.

Firstly, it's essential to flag that in Germany working students, despite their part-time status, enter into a formal employment contract with their employers. This contract not only defines their working conditions but also legally binds them to the employer, granting them certain rights similar to those of full-time employees. This includes being part of the social security system (even though they may be exempt from certain contributions like unemployment insurance). Their inclusion in the social security system underscores their status as legitimate employees, not merely interns or temporary workers which from a compliance point of view, make them also subject for WorkFlex use.

That is one of the reasons that when it comes to Workflex, the same principles apply. Since working students have a legal employment relationship, they not only should be entitled to the same opportunities for a semester abroad as regular employees but must request it the same way. The duration of the stay and the nature of the work (or lack thereof) abroad are factors, but they do not fundamentally alter the student's right to apply for and benefit from WorkFlex.

In conclusion, working students in Germany, including dual students, should be afforded the same rights on our platform as regular employees, reflecting their contractual and legal status within the company.

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