During the pandemic it was more of an emergency solution, but now working from home has become an integral part of everyday working life for Germans. For employees it means more flexibility and work-life balance. Employers who allow their employees to work at least part of the time from home are considered modern and particularly attractive to young talent. However, some companies want to bring their employees back to the office. This is suggested by a study by the HR consulting company Königsteiner Group, for which more than 1,000 employees were surveyed and reported to the F.A.Z. available in advance.More than a third (35 percent) of employees stated in the survey that their employers had already asked them to do more face-to-face work. More than half (55 percent) also have the impression that their employer is interested in increasing their presence in the office. The Königsteiner Group sees a “back-to-office” strategy for many employers here. A question of productivity? 58 percent reported clear home office regulations. According to the survey, most employees are entitled to two days in the home office per week. However, only 18 percent took advantage of this. Instead, 61 percent said they only used one home office day. A third work in the office five days a week. However, as the survey shows, this is not what many employees want. Only 22 percent said they wanted to spend the full working week in the office. Whether you like working from home also seems to be a question of age. 62 percent of respondents over 60 said they preferred to work in person. In the 40 to 49 age group it is only 44 percent. 43 percent said they got more done in the office. However, 35 percent felt more productive working from home. Those surveyed were clearly more satisfied working from home. More than half feel less stressed at home, compared to just 26 percent in the office. The majority also said they felt more balanced at home during and after work.What can companies do?According to the survey, the majority of those surveyed appreciate the clear separation of professional and private life in everyday life in the office. For many people, exchanging ideas with colleagues is particularly important. 68 percent see this as a central argument for returning to more face-to-face work. According to the Königsteiner Group, this is a good starting point for companies that want to motivate their workforce to do more work in person. External content from Opinary In order to display external content, your revocable consent is required. Personal data from third-party platforms (possibly USA) may be processed. More information. Activate external contentIn order to achieve this, the office must not only be a functional workplace for employees, but also a place for meetings and social interaction, recommends the HR consulting group. Because of perceived higher productivity in the office, companies have a justified interest in doing more work in person. On the other hand, there would be greater satisfaction among employees when working from home. Employers would therefore have to create offers that increase the satisfaction of employees in the office. The study mentions subsidies for commuting, free snacks and drinks, a cheap lunch menu in the canteen and after-work events. More on the topic However, a complete return to face-to-face operations is not realistic for companies. The study concluded that the “home office clocks” could no longer be turned back. For most people, working from home is now a natural part of their professional life. Employees should be granted a day in the home office, which the majority would like according to the survey. Especially in shortage professions such as the IT industry, entrepreneurs should carefully weigh productivity against satisfaction.
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