Working from home – Many companies see a return to mandatory office attendance as the recipe for greater productivity and a stronger sense of cohesion. That is a misconception. And at a time when skilled workers are in short supply, it can put companies at a very real disadvantage in the recruitment market. A guest article by Nadine Riederer*
(Photo: Paulwip /www.pixelio.de)
More and more companies are reversing course and bringing their employees back into the office, in some cases by introducing mandatory office days and in others by requiring a full-time return. What is striking is that some of the companies that were once regarded as pioneers of working from home during the Covid pandemic are now among those tightening their rules. The reasons given tend to be similar: better collaboration, a stronger corporate culture and higher productivity. But do these arguments really hold up? Our experience as an IT service provider tells a different story.
Presence vs. productivity
Being present does not automatically mean being productive. In an office, it may be possible to check whether someone is physically at their desk, but that says little about how effectively they are actually working. Quite apart from the fact that knowledge work can only be assessed to a limited extent on the basis of physical presence anyway. Our experience is quite the opposite: employees working from home often demonstrate a greater sense of personal responsibility and are also more willing to switch their computers back on outside conventional working hours when necessary. Meetings tend to start on time, there are fewer interruptions caused by spontaneous office conversations, and employees are better able to plan periods of concentrated work.
Office presence for a purpose
There is, of course, some merit to the argument that personal interaction improves collaboration and strengthens corporate culture. Face-to-face communication can foster creativity, and corporate culture cannot be built exclusively in the digital world. But none of this requires employees to spend entire days in the office simply because company policy says so. Purposeful workshops and team days can provide precisely the kind of personal interaction that is important for communication and cohesion. Being in the office creates real added value when there is a specific reason for it, not when attendance is imposed as a blanket rule.
Working from home makes recruitment easier
(Photo: Avision / HJS archive)
Companies are not only mistaken if they believe that forcing employees back into the office will automatically increase productivity and cohesion. They are also voluntarily shrinking their pool of potential recruits, at precisely a time when skilled professionals are in short supply.
Working from home enables companies to recruit nationwide without requiring candidates to relocate, significantly expanding the potential talent pool. At the same time, workplace flexibility has long since become an important competitive factor in recruitment and is particularly expected by younger professionals. Many employees have also adapted their long-term personal circumstances to permanent remote working and, in some cases, have moved away from major urban centres. For them, mandatory office days can ultimately become a reason to leave their employer.
Keeping costs under control
Greater attractiveness as an employer is far from the only benefit for companies. Remote working also means that businesses require less office space, reducing both rental and operating costs. It can also reduce commuting and the associated CO₂ emissions, thereby supporting companies in achieving their ESG objectives. And there are benefits for customers as well. Companies can provide better service and greater availability. Longer service hours are easier to organise, while having employees based across Germany also makes it easier to maintain operations during regional public holidays.
Trust is essential
In some sectors, such as IT, there is ultimately little reason to turn away from working from home. Of course, companies have to place a certain degree of trust in their employees. Our experience over the past few years, however, has shown that this trust pays off, both for employees and for the company. Ultimately, what matters is not where people work, but the results they deliver.
Avision at a Glance
Avision, based in Oberhaching near Munich, is an IT service provider specialising in software revival, application development and support. As an alternative to complete system replacements, which are often costly and entail considerable risks, Avision modernises companies’ legacy software in an efficient and targeted manner. High-performing and business-critical components are retained, while outdated and costly modules are replaced. Key functionalities are further developed, modernised or migrated to other systems.
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