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Development and evaluation of working from home: businesses are divided
The question of how work can be sensibly mixed between working from home and being in the office divides the German economy. Currently, 58% of companies offer at least some of their employees the option of mobile working. However, 20 percent of companies used to offer this option, but no longer do. A further 20 percent have never had the option of working from home. These are the latest figures from a survey conducted by the industry association Bitkom.
The availability of working from home depends heavily on the size of the company: It is significantly more common in larger companies. For example, 71% of companies with 100 to 499 employees and as many as 74% of companies with 500 or more employees allow employees to work from home.
Almost half of companies are not planning any changes to working from home
Despite the current prevalence, a trend reversal is emerging. In the coming months, 15 percent of companies that offer home office are planning to reduce this option and a further 5 percent want to abolish it completely. In 30 percent of companies, the option has already been restricted in the past year. Just under half (45 percent), on the other hand, are not planning any changes, and three percent even want to expand the home office. According to Bitkom President Dr Ralf Wintergerst, well-organized hybrid working models can be beneficial for companies and employees alike. He emphasizes that flexible working models are crucial in times of a shortage of skilled workers in order to attract and retain qualified personnel.
A majority of companies (57 percent) share the view that companies without a home office offering have difficulties finding good employees. A controversial point is the assumption that requests to return to the office often serve to identify or dismiss unmotivated employees – 46 percent of the companies surveyed believe this. At the same time, a clear majority of two-thirds of companies (67%) believe that working from home can have a negative impact on team cohesion.
Productivity in the home office is viewed positively by many companies
Interestingly, 44% are of the opinion that working from home tends to be more productive than working in the office. Companies are also more relaxed about the issue of private tasks during working hours in the home office: 41% have no problem with employees doing private things. Wintergerst argues that performance should not be measured by simply sitting in front of a screen. In his opinion, flexible working hours can improve the work-life balance and often lead to higher productivity and better results.
Right to work from home is rejected by the majority of companies
A legal right to work from home is not very popular in the German economy. Almost three quarters of companies (72%) reject such a regulation, while only a quarter (25%) would be in favor of it.
Summary
While some companies want to restrict or even completely abolish the option of working from home, other companies are planning to expand or at least continue to offer working from home.
