Working from home even after the coronavirus pandemic? Advantages and disadvantages from a business perspective

Abstract

"This article provides an overview of the business perspective on working from home even after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Reasons for and against an expansion of working from home are analyzed. The analyses are based on the fourth wave of the “Businesses in the COVID-19 crisis” study, in which businesses were asked in detail about their current experiences with and future plans for working from home. For the descriptive analyses, only businesses in which the possibility of working from home exists in principle were taken into account (n = 1,059). Working from home has become more important in German businesses during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. At the same time, the majority of businesses are aiming to return to their pre-crisis levels. About one fifth of the businesses plan to expand working from home in the future. Large businesses in particular want to expand their options. Businesses that want to reduce the proportion of staff working from home or teleworking again after the crisis state that the activities of the employees are not suitable for working from home. When businesses want to expand working from home options, they most often aim to improve the flexibility and work-life balance of their employees. Increasing work-from-home activities poses new challenges for occupational safety and health, and company regulations on the organization of work-from-home activities are gaining in importance. Large businesses in particular see a possible perceived unequal treatment of employees as a future issue." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Backhaus, N., Tisch, A., Pohlan, L. & Kagerl, C. (2021): Arbeit von zuhause in Zeiten während und nach Corona - Vor- und Nachteile aus betrieblicher Sicht. In: Arbeitsmedizin, Sozialmedizin, Umweltmedizin, Vol. 56, No. 5, p. 276-284.