For a long time, working from home did not have a good reputation with HR managers.
However, the experiences that companies have had since the beginning of the corona pandemic a good year ago are largely positive.
This is shown by a study by the personnel service provider Robert Half.
Vanessa Sproedt-Graef, branch manager in Frankfurt, confirms this. Customer feedback shows: "Colleagues work well together via remote work, and mutual support ensures a positive attitude in the team."
Patricia Andreae
Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.
Follow I follow
For a long time, decentralized employment was seen as a hurdle when it came to working with colleagues.
The personnel service provider was all the more surprised about the current figures from the labor market study on the consequences of remote work: Around every third manager in Germany found that their colleagues in the team support each other better.
Almost 30 percent also see that employees still have a positive attitude towards their work despite the stresses caused by the corona pandemic.
The numbers make it clear that the majority of companies are able to deal with the new situation, says a company spokeswoman.
On the one hand, companies are increasingly digitized; on the other hand, employees quickly got used to the new situation and adapted their working methods.
"Ultimately, this also benefits the companies that can get through the time of crisis better", says Emine Yilmaz, Vice President Permanent Brands at Robert Half.
Better work-life balance
The labor market study, for which 1500 companies across Europe, 300 of them in Germany, were surveyed, named the agility of the teams as the greatest advantage. Almost 30 percent of HR managers said that hybrid working methods ensured continuity. In the opinion of the respondents, the retention of important employees with key qualifications also succeeds better through mobile working (28 percent). According to the survey, employees also benefit from a better work-life balance and greater flexibility because they can work from any location and better manage their working hours.
However, the survey results also showed that hybrid working not only offers advantages for companies, it said.
In the opinion of every third manager, one of the greatest challenges is the search for employees with new skills.
Just as many find it difficult to keep an eye on the well-being and mental health of employees.
In addition, around 32 percent are confronted with higher costs, for example for technical equipment, new health offers or childcare.
"Hybrid work and remote work are groundbreaking for the future"
Nevertheless, according to the results of the study, the majority of managers (86 percent) assume that hybrid work models will establish themselves permanently in the world of work. “Hybrid work and remote work are groundbreaking for the future,” says Yilmaz. If companies implement flexible working models, they save costs, are more interesting for specialists and better equipped for global crises. "In addition, a regular presence in the office that is adapted to the pandemic promotes team cohesion," says Yilmaz.
For the success of hybrid working models, however, it is important that individual solutions are found for each employee.
“In the worst case, anyone who, as a manager, disregards the needs of employees risks health damage due to social isolation, too little support in the event of problems or too much workload.
A close and direct exchange with colleagues in the home office helps to recognize warning signals at an early stage and to be able to take countermeasures immediately, ”emphasizes Yilmaz.
According to Vanessa Sproedt-Graef, digital team events as well as joint coffee breaks and informal after-work meetings are helpful for a good atmosphere: "During this time, colleagues even move closer together - although they are spatially separated."