24.2% - This is how many people within the group of employed persons worked from home in Germany in 2022. 14.7% of them spent at least half of their time in their own home office (alternatively, co-working spaces were used, for example). The Federal Statistical Office has collected a lot of data on this and found that men tend to work more from home and that home office and remote working is most popular in the 35-44 age group. But of course it also depends on the profession: While only 5.8% of people in skilled trades and trades-related professions worked in a home office, around 27% of people in commercial professions and over 50% of scientists did. 

Oh dear, so many figures - we didn't make them up, of course, but did some clever research. That's why everything can be found at the Federal Statistical Office.

How everything changed 

We all know Steve Jobs - a man who not only captivated us with his speeches, but was also an absolute visionary and turned the world upside down in terms of technology and, above all, our individual communication. And Steve Jobs spoke about remote working and its benefits in a video back in 1990.

The world of work has also changed in Germany since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. While it was normal to go to work five days a week and work until the afternoon or evening, the pandemic has forced us to rethink things. More distance had to be kept, fewer people had to come together - and working from home suddenly became more attractive. From one day to the next, almost 50% of employees in Germany were sent home to work.

Creating space at home at short notice, working in your own bedroom or even at the kitchen table - this suddenly became normal, as very few working people already had a desk at home at that time, let alone their own office to be able to retreat to. 

For many, this change was a gift from the pandemic; for others, it was a step-by-step return to working in their employer's office. And young employees in particular - we're talking about at least 29% here - continue to prefer working from home or from co-working offices. Above all, flexibility is something that GenZ appreciates and which also seems to be a decisive factor when choosing a job. So anyone competing for young people in the shortage of skilled workers should consider what form of flexibility is on offer. 

And often it's not about being able to work 100% from home, but rather about being able to decide for yourself when and where to work.

When home becomes the office 

When your home becomes your workplace, we're talking about home office - but what exactly is remote work again? Let's take a look at the differences. 

While the home office actually means that employees work from home - some employers also expect a permanently furnished workplace there (sometimes even with a lockable door) - remote working, on the other hand, is not tied to a fixed location. A bench in the park, a table in a café, a lounger on the beach - these can all be remote workstations. The prerequisite: an internet connection. 

In both cases, communication with the team and superiors takes place via telephone, email and online meetings. 

Of course, all this is only possible if your own job makes it possible. Many office jobs can be done from the comfort of your own home or even from a park bench, as there are already virtual solutions for external access to your own company network. Other jobs - let's think of teachers, medical professionals or tradespeople, for example - cannot be done so easily from home. 

The medical sector got creative during the pandemic - online consultation hours were introduced. Many teachers were also only able to communicate with their pupils virtually due to school closures. However, some professions (as in the manufacturing industry) cannot simply be carried out from a different location. 

Why flexibility is a game changer

Actually, this headline is almost a leading question. But the question really is why people have learned to love working from home and remote working so much.

The new opportunities in terms of work-life balance are probably at the top of the list. The time spent commuting to the office and back home in the evening is saved - more time for yourself, your family and friends or to pursue hobbies. Studies have also shown that employees' productivity increases significantly, as distractions such as a quick chat over coffee no longer occur.

Companies can also benefit from this: The environmental impact is reduced (an aspect for the company's own image), costs can be reduced (e.g. no commuting costs) and statistically speaking, employees working from home are also less likely to fall ill - ergo: less absenteeism. 

Despite all this, there are of course two key questions: What control options are there for companies? And aren't people lonely when they are alone at work? 

To be a little provocative in answering the first question: The question of control shouldn't arise, because anyone who doesn't work at home has probably only warmed a chair in the office. 

Of course it's an important question for companies, but ultimately it's still the work results that count, isn't it?

And then there's loneliness - there's certainly no one-size-fits-all answer to this, because the feeling is at least as individual as the people themselves. 

But there are creative ways to exchange ideas, as well as virtual meetings with people who are nice to see live and in color. In the best case scenario, simply approach the team and ask questions - there are bound to be some creative ideas. 

Home office and remote work at Flanke 7 

Of course, this is also an issue for us - or not, depending on your perspective. 

During Corona, we at F7 also got rid of the idea that you have to be in the office every day to work. And we have maintained and even expanded it: the team has grown and we now have five people (soon even six) who work 100% remotely or from home. And from other federal states or even from another country in Europe. 

The quality of the work has not suffered at all as a result - quite the opposite: we have had the opportunity to expand our team with people who are the best at what they do - but are happy to remain flexible. And there are bright minds not only in the Rems-Murr district, but everywhere.

Our team spirit is also unchanged, because online meetings can also be used to exchange a little more than work-related information and meetings with everyone together take place live and in color, even if someone is flown in. 

And the team from the immediate vicinity of the agency? They naturally enjoy the same freedom and flexibility as our remote colleagues. Visit the office? Sure, whenever you want. Stay at home? Sure, whenever you want. Work from another city? Sure, however it suits you. 

Our choice and attitude towards flexible design and the choice of work location has more than paid off for us. And it also makes us a very attractive employer, because 100% remote jobs are usually only available to freelancers and the like.

Summary 

A coin with two sides? For us, it's definitely not, because there are only positive aspects that we note in relation to remote work, home office and the like. Of course, we also understand the concerns and aspects that speak against it and it is difficult for many companies to tackle major changes from one day to the next. 

However, expectations regarding the choice of work location have changed and companies that want to be attractive as an employer for the younger generations in particular may not have to be a 100% remote employer, but flexibility should definitely be the order of the day. 

We are excited to see what is yet to come and what changes we will see in the world of work over the next few years. 

You can find more articles on the Flanke 7 blog on the most colorful topics.