Slaying the 9-5 Grind: Navigating for More Remote Work Days in Germany
Increased opportunities for remote workdays at home.
Fancy ditching the daily commute and working from home more often? Not every boss will be ecstatic about your remote work fantasies. Here's how to make your case and convince the old man in charge.
When you tire of the daily rigmarole of a 9-5 office job, the idea of working from home might seem like paradise. However, not all companies are as keen as you are on the idea. In fact, some may even push for more office attendance. In Germany, there isn't a legal entitlement to work-from-home, so how do you sweet-talk your manager into letting you work remotely more often?
Mastering the Negotiation
To make the case for home-based work, concentrate on discussing job-related aspects and busting the boss's potential reservations. A bit of legerdemain with goals and deadlines can help.
Your arguments should be dripping with benefits for the company. Nail down these points, and you'll have yourself a powerful negotiation toolkit:
Super Productivity: "Workers working remotely are astonishingly productive," says business guru Ute Gietzen-Wieland. Study after study shows that productivity levels can skyrocket in a home office, especially when staffers are only present there a few days a week. When they can sculpt their workday to their liking, employees often work with superfocus.
Say Goodbye to Commuting: Ditching the back-and-forth between home and office, and the hours spent stuck in traffic, leaves time for productive work instead. "This is a doozy of an argument, especially during peak order times," says Gietzen-Wieland.
Lower Costs: Companies pocket savings on home office utilities, cleaning, and perhaps travel reimbursements. They might also see a reduction in sick leaves as the risk of infecting colleagues diminishes.
Eco-Friendly: Eliminating the daily commute makes for a greener company.
Work-Life Bliss: Home office usually means better compatibility between work and personal life. "But, remember, it's best to present these arguments subtly," says Hannes Zacher, professor of work and organizational psychology at Leipzig University.
Caution: Flammable Arguments
It seems logical: Parents of young children or those with aging relatives need regular home office days. However, employees should be wary when discussing these issues with the boss. "Do not use childcare or care for the elderly as arguments for home office," advises Hannes Zacher. The employer could then suspect that workers are slacking off at home, participating in other activities.
Arguments like "I have to fetch the kids from school" or "I'd like to have lunch with my partner" can be counterproductive. In modern hybrid work arrangements, work-life balance is seen as self-regulation by companies.
A Strategic Approach to Negotiations
The ideal time to bring up the subject? "Employees should use the annual review for this," says Zacher. They can point out that previous trial runs with one day a week working from home have been effective, and they'd now like to work from home for two days a week.
In an existing work relationship, employees can leverage their past successes and trust with the employer as a starting point for their argument. "Employers are often more accommodating when they know the employee and are satisfied with their performance and cooperation," says Gietzen-Wieland.
It's essential to prepare meticulously for the conversation, have solutions ready to quell the boss's concerns, and agree on certain goals to be achieved within a specified timeframe.
When to Walk Away
Further Reading Companies See No Productivity Loss in Remote Work Monitoring in the Home Office: Trust is Good, Control is Better? But what if the boss shows no inclination to bend? In such cases, it all depends on your needs. Hannes Zacher suggests contemplating a job change if the daily commute is causing stress or the office is making you sick.
Job seekers on the hunt should pay heed to hints about work flexibility in job ads. During the interview, inquire about the specific interpretation of flexibility offers, says Gietzen-Wieland.
Source: ntv.de, awi/dpa
- Employees
- Legal issues
- Housing
- Employers
- Home office
- Embracing a home-based lifestyle could lead to increased productivity, as suggested by business guru Ute Gietzen-Wieland, due to the flexibility and focus it often provides.
- Science shows that remote work not only saves time from commuting but also decreases costs for companies due to utilities, cleaning, and travel expenses, as well as potential reductions in sick leave.
- For some, integrating vocational training into a home-and-garden lifestyle might be advantageous, allowing for flexible work hours and a conducive learning environment, ultimately contributing to personal development and workplace-wellness.
