Companies divided on remote work as study shows mixed effects of office presence

Return to the office: As part of the post-pandemic normalization, many companies are returning to office presence – yet the benefits are controversial according to a recent study. The online database Statista concludes in a survey among employees that the majority of German workers not only want to maintain their home office arrangements but would prefer to expand them. And then there’s the issue with office space.

Return to the Office: Mixed Results

More and more companies worldwide are considering a return to office presence. A current example: SAP. As the German software company announced in January 2024, there will be a mandatory presence of three days per week for all employees starting in April. However, these decisions are not only met with mixed reactions internally.

A study by the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh shows that productivity does not necessarily increase with a return to the office. The authors of the study, Yuye Ding and Mark (Shuai) Ma, analyzed the remote work policies of 137 companies in the S&P 500 Index. Ding and Ma emphasize that the reintroduction of office presence is often seen as a means of controlling employees. Clear effects on company performance are not evident.

Home Office: An Established Norm

A survey by the ifo Institute shows that 84% of German companies want to maintain their current home office policies. Simon Krause, a researcher at the ifo Institute, explains: “Despite the public debate about returning to the office, working from home has firmly established itself in the working world.” The survey also found that plans for home office policies vary by industry. While some sectors, such as the media industry and manufacturing, plan further flexibilization, others, such as textile manufacturers and the pharmaceutical industry, aim to tighten restrictions.

And what do employees think about the current debate? A Statista survey shows that the average full-time employee in Germany currently works one day per week from home. The majority of respondents would prefer an average of at least 1.8 days of remote work. The numbers make it clear: employees desire more flexibility rather than pressure to be present.

Works Council: “We don’t even know where the employees should sit”

Another aspect causing concern for CEOs and employees: Many companies reduced physical workplaces during the pandemic. They now face the challenge of efficiently utilizing their remaining office spaces. In the case of SAP, works council chairman Eberhard Schick expresses concern: “We don’t even know where the employees should sit.”

The discussion about office presence also underscores the growing importance of targeted workplace and space management – and at least in this aspect of the debate, there is faster, more intelligent support available. ReCoTech offers suitable tools and solutions for companies. Area planning and workplace booking can be done at the touch of a button. Smart extensions like a booking service for conference rooms and parking spaces help companies and their employees address challenges related to “return to the office” and ensure optimal use of office spaces.