After Olaf Scholz (minister of finances) was in TV yesterday, things are still as unclear to me as they were to you yesterday. People were able to ask him questions. One question, asked by a young mother, was how she will cope after using up her overtime.
Here's what he said:
Germany just released a huge money package.
The government talked to the employers association (Arbeitgeberverbände), so employers can "interpret law openly": if you can't go to work without guilt, employers should pay wage continuation (Lohnfortzahlung) as a gesture of goodwill (Kulanz), which varies by contract.
I interpret this as it's up to your employer, though it might not even apply to you anyways, as you can work from home.
Olaf Scholz says employers associations are in consens with labour unions (Gewerkschaften).
Depending on your employer you might therefore be able to ask your labour union for help.
Olaf Scholz continues, that a new ruling is on its way, that will enable employers to claim wage coverage (Lohnabsicherung) from the state until easter. This new law has still to be passed by parliament (Bundestag). You would have to handle this through your employer, though.
He mentions taking overtime and vacation days are an option, too.
So, to sum it up: it's completely up to your employer. If your employer engages with labour unions, you're better off.
Another question to Olaf Scholz was how people shall cope with less money during Kurzarbeit.
He answered, he hopes, enterprises are ramping up to full payment if they have reserve assets.
You can read a summary here: (though there's just the summary, Olaf Scholz answered particularly any question with "we released a huge package")
https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/tv/deutschland-fragt-zu-corona-prosieben-show-fuer-eine-verunsicherte-bevoelkerung-a-f7fd4c0e-7b2d-4a34-beda-517e8559ad90
Or watch the whole TV session here:
https://www.prosieben.de/tv/prosieben-live-deutschland-fragt-zu-corona/video/20201-experten-beantworten-eure-fragen-zu-corona-sendung-vom-25-maerz-ganze-folge
(31:30 - 34:00)
(I suggest you watch the whole video, there are also other experts, the whole show was pretty great)
Beforehand (16.03.2020) he said himself he begs employees to take vacation or overtime:
Spd.de/aktuelles/corona/corona-aktuelles/