If you depend on wearing glasses at work, you can claim these expenses from your employer. The European Court says so, in a decision that could result in many companies having to pay their workers for the glasses. The Economist explains all about it.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) understands that, according to a European directive, employers are obliged to bear the costs of glasses for graduate work or contact lenses, if the jobs require the use of screens.
This is after a Romanian worker filed a complaint linking computer use at work to deteriorating eyesight.
Although it arose from a relatively recent case, the truth is that the companies’ alleged obligation to pay for glasses to work lies in a European directive more than a decade ago.
Article 9 of Directive 90/270/EEC“Protecting the eyes and eyesight of workers,” provides for the employer to pay the expenses associated with the purchase of vision aids.
Interpretation of the aforementioned article describing minimum health and safety requirements related to working with projectors – computers, for example – by the Court of Appeal in Cluj (Romania), referred the matter to the judicial body of the European Union (EU).
This is because the “special corrective devices” under this section include eyeglasses specifically designed to correct and prevent visual disturbances related to work involving screen equipment.
On the other hand, “special correction devices” are not limited to exclusive professional use, as interpreted by the CJEU.
Origin of the question
The topic was launched after a complaint from a worker at the General Inspectorate for Immigration in Romania, who stated that working with a computer, as well as “other risk factors”, such as the lack of natural light and “intermittent visible light”. It damaged his eyesight so much that he had to change his glasses.
In addition, the worker also complained about the fact that the Romanian National Health Insurance System does not provide for reimbursement of the amount paid for the new pair of glasses, after requesting a refund (refusal) from the employer.
It was precisely this, requesting a refund, which led to the dispute.
In the end, the case to the Court of the European Union (CJEU) was resolved, in support of the claimant, bearing in mind that Article 9 of the 1990 Directive provides that the employer pays the expenses associated with the purchase of vision aids. .
Employers must pay glasses for work
The law provides that cases that can be shown to exist in identical circumstances may benefit from an earlier decision. We are talking about case law. However, more than that, this case presupposes the interpretation of the European directive in this matter, and the support of the plaintiff.
Thus, in a ruling published on December 22, 2022, the EU judicial body decided that employers must cover the expenses of workers who need prescription glasses or contact lenses to be able to work with computers.
Employers can choose to “directly supply” eyeglasses or contact lenses or, alternatively, reimburse “necessary expenses incurred by the employee.” The European Court also adds that compensation should not be made through “the payment of a general salary premium”.
Conclusion
If you also notice vision difficulties and need to wear glasses to work, if your work necessarily takes place at the computer, you already know that you can ask your employer to pay related expenses.
