Researcher Czycholl: ‘Working from home is an important argument on the labour market’

Introduction

The world of work has changed dramatically in recent years. Working from home is no longer a luxury, but an important argument when choosing an employer. More and more companies are focussing on flexible working models in order to attract and retain qualified specialists in the long term. But what are the advantages of working from home? And what challenges do companies have to overcome to ensure the productivity and satisfaction of their employees?

Working from home as a decisive factor on the labour market

According to a recent study by Ms Czycholl at the University of Oldenburg, working from home plays a central role in the choice of job. Furthermore, a full 40 per cent of those surveyed stated that they would turn down a job without the option of working from home. Flexibility in the place of work is a decisive factor, especially for young professionals and IT specialists. Employers who fail to adapt to this risk losing out in the competition for talent. In addition, many respondents emphasised that working from home is an important argument in contract negotiations.

Advantages for employers

Working from home also has numerous advantages for companies:

• Higher productivity: 94 per cent of the companies surveyed rate the performance of their employees in the home office as equivalent or even higher compared to the office.
• Cost savings: Less office space means lower rental, electricity and operating costs.
• Satisfied and loyal employees: Flexible working models increase employee satisfaction and reduce staff turnover.
• Greater choice of talent: Employers are no longer limited to local applicants and can search globally for the best skilled labour. A decisive argument in times of a shortage of skilled labour.

Challenges and risks of working from home

Despite the many advantages, there are also challenges that should not be underestimated.

1. boundaries between work and private life

A frequently cited problem is the mix of work and private life. Many employees report longer working hours and irregular breaks, which can lead to stress and sleep disorders in the long term.

Solution: Companies should define clear rules on availability and working hours. A ‘right to disconnect’ culture can help to protect employees' mental health. This also emphasises the importance of working from home as an important argument in workplace design.

2. Communication and team spirit

The lack of personal dialogue with colleagues can make collaboration more difficult. Misunderstandings arise more quickly and informal conversations (‘kitchen floor communication’) are no longer possible.

Solution: Regular virtual meetings, hybrid working models and digital collaboration tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams or Asana can help to strengthen team cohesion. This is increasingly seen as an important argument in favour of the introduction of working from home.

3. data security

There is an increased risk of cyberattacks and data breaches when working from home.

Solution: Companies should establish clear IT guidelines, provide VPN access and train employees in cybersecurity.

Success strategies for an effective home office culture

For home office to work in the long term, companies need to take certain measures:

1. establish a culture of trust

Instead of control, companies should focus on results-orientated performance measurement. Trust and personal responsibility promote employee motivation. This is a strong argument in favour of implementing working from home.

2. clear communication

Regular updates, check-ins and feedback sessions help to avoid misunderstandings and maintain team spirit.

3. provide technical equipment

Employers should ensure that their employees are equipped with powerful laptops, ergonomic workstations and stable internet connections. Equipping employees is very easy via our platform, for example. This is of crucial importance and offers home office as an important argument in modern working conditions.

Conclusion: working from home as a model for the future

Working from home is more than just a trend - it is a decisive competitive factor for modern companies and an important argument on the labour market. The opportunity to work flexibly is a decisive argument for many skilled workers when choosing a job. Companies that focus on hybrid working and at the same time actively manage the challenges of working from home can secure a long-term advantage on the labour market.