One in every five companies in Germany is reversing remote work policies once again
Nearly twenty percent of German businesses have retracted their work-from-home policies once more. - Approximately 20% of businesses in Germany have discontinued the option for remote work.
Here's the scoop: A majority of larger companies in Germany – 71% for those employing 100 to 499 people and 74% for firms with over 500 employees – offer remote work options. However, shockingly, it appears that every fifth company in the country is now ditching this perk again.
Why, you ask?
Ralf Wintergerst, President of Bitkom, explains the potential appeal of well-organized hybrid work models for both businesses and workers alike. He notes that remote work can be instrumental in attracting tight-market talent, with 57% of surveyed companies believing that companies without a remote work offering may struggle to find quality candidates.
Not everyone's on board, though. 46% of the surveyed companies view the recall to the office as a means to oust less-motivated employees. While there's a clear majority (67%) of companies concerned about losing company cohesion due to remote work, 44% still believe that employees achieve higher productivity at home compared to the office.
Wintergerst sums up the current sentiment, stating, "Even a contentious topic of late is now viewed more calmly in the corporate world." It seems that a sizable 41% of companies find it acceptable for employees to tend to personal matters during remote work hours. The key takeaway? Businesses should focus on results rather than cumulative screen time, allowing for flexible working hours that can boost productivity and performance.
Bitkom surveyed 602 companies employing 20 or more people for this study in March and April of this year. The survey results are deemed representative by Bitkom.
Fun Fact:
A shift is underway in German legislation, with recent developments including discussions to abolish the Supply Chain Act and attempts to reduce bureaucracy[1][2][3]. This trend toward reducing red tape could indirectly affect company policies like working arrangements, although it doesn't directly target home office policies specifically.
Also, the German Coalition Agreement 2025 highlights digital innovation and simplified data protection standards, which may indirectly encourage flexible and digital collaboration in the workplace[5]. Nevertheless, Wintergerst's detailed views on hybrid work models can be gleaned from Bitkom's official statements or recent interviews. Keep your eyes open for those!
- Ralph Wintergerst, President of Bitkom, proposes that well-organized hybrid work models could be beneficial for both businesses and employees in Germany, as they can attract tight-market talent.
- One in five enterprises in Germany has again abolished their home office policies, leading to questions about the reasons behind this decision.
- A majority of companies (67%) are concerned about losing company cohesion due to remote work, but 44% still believe that employees achieve higher productivity at home.
- Bitkom, a German digital association, conducted a survey of 602 companies employing 20 or more people, finding that a sizable 41% of companies find it acceptable for employees to tend to personal matters during remote work hours.
- According to Wintergerst, businesses should focus on results rather than cumulative screen time, allowing for flexible working hours that can boost productivity and performance.
