From the bed to the office chair: In the more than two years of the pandemic, many employees have settled into the home-sweet home office - sometimes in the truest sense of the word.
In many places, for example, a true rural exodus has set in, and some city dwellers have finally fulfilled their dream of living in the countryside.
Others have purchased back-friendly standing desks, ergonomic sitting balls or portafilter machines for the home.
In any case, many companies find it difficult to lure their employees back into the office after various corona protection measures have been relaxed or expired.
If you would like to have your people on site more often again, but don't want to be forced into office right away, you have to work really hard.
HR departments report on free breakfast or competitions exclusively for those present.
Or barbecues with childcare.
The latter is only logical: until recently, attempts were made to lure vaccination skeptics with the prospect of free crackers to spades in the local furniture store, but now the companies are literally about the sausage.
Loss of team spirit and creative drive
Because many employers complain about the loss of team spirit and creative momentum when everyone is grilling alone in the quiet little room, pardon me: brooding.
An example from the United States shows how desperate some companies must be because of the empty corridors: A media company there pays all employees who currently find their way back to the office $75 – a kind of travel bonus, so to speak.
While the capitalism-hardened Americans let face value speak, the Brits, who are known to be hard-drinking, also serve the cliché: A London advertising agency now promises free beer for everyone present every Friday from 4 p.m.
Well then cheers!
In the “Nine to five” office column, weekly changing authors write with a wink about the curiosities of everyday life at work and at university.