Back to the office - so the conversion works a bit easier

The HomeOffice duty is no longer available. Many employees will probably be regular in the office in the future. But how did that go, work among many people?

• Now all have to go back to the office?
• Do we first have to get used to the office again?
• Which challenges brings the return to the office?
• What opportunities brings the return to the office?
• How can the working day look in the future?
• How to find teams good regulations?

Now all have to go back to the office?

Even if the Corona numbers are currently further high: Since the beginning of the week, employers have been in hand to decide on corona rules in operation. A corresponding regulation has decided the Federal Cabinet.

This also ends the legal obligation to the HomeOffice. In the future, it is in the hands of the employer, whether you want to offer your employees home office. For workers, this can sometimes be called that they need more often to the office. Remains the question: Can we still do that?

Do we first have to get used to the office again?

"For many, that's a changeover," says Utz Niklas Walter from the Institute of Operational Health Consultancy (IFBG) in Konstanz.

Jutta Rump, director at the Institute for Employment and Employability (IBE) in Ludwigshafen, is assuming that employees who were not on-site for a long time must first be adapted to the in-house structures when returning.

According to Walter, the leadership culture in the home office is another than in the office. In the office, they can develop again to more observation and control. On-site, many executives would simply rate the events differently than out of distance.

Which challenges brings the return to the office?

On the one hand, commuting and travel times are now reinforced theme. At the rides with bus, train or car, employees often become aware of how much time is lost, which is not always productive or for themselves. "This loss of time will be felt for many," says Walter.

The commuting is also ensured by many for past festivals and thus represents a real challenge for the so-called late types. "In the home office it was possible that the owls were more likely to be owls and larks rather lark."

Walter also refers to interpersonal challenges. Who was not in the office for a long time, possibly struggling with a certain «questionnal». "That starts with that people no longer know if they are a fist now, the hand or whatever."

Jutta Rump appeals to conflicts. Who has trouble with colleagues in the HomeOffice, can rrea well again. The next day, the situation has mostly relaxed. In the office, on the other hand, where you can see the whole day, a conflict can rather swind up.

What opportunities brings the return to the office?

Of course, the (temporary) return to the office also brings positive, on which we had to do without in long home office phases. "I have the impression that all are happy to come together again," says Jutta Rump.

Utz Niklas Walter also calls the workplace ergonomics. "You often have better conditions, which is about screen size, desk or the noise range," says Walter.

Ibe director Jutta Rump sees the biggest chance in being in the same room while working again. This encourages the team spirit. On site can also be more flexible. Especially in the onboarding of new employees, at work with trainees or in conjunction with customers or customers are the benefits.

How can the working day look in the future?

Only a few companies will now be completely based on presence, believes IFBG expert Walter. "I think that understanding would not be there anymore." In many places, the probably does not allow the current infectious numbers at all.

Jutta Rump pleads for "shaping a good mix". So the best of two worlds can be merged. In surveys, a majority of employees, where it is possible, adds such a mix of two days of mobile work and three days of office.

How to find teams good regulations?

Not in every company will find a perfect model right away, many would first have to ran the new regulations, so Walter. He recommends that employers and employee representatives communicate together on home office rules that take account of the wishes of both sides.