ifo Study: Home-Office Rate Stays Stable – 84% Keep It
According to the ifo Institute, 84% of companies want to keep their home-office policy unchanged. Only 4% plan to abolish it. The key numbers.
A recent survey by the ifo Institute debunks the supposed “back-to-office” trend: the vast majority of companies offering home office want to keep it – and many want to make it even more flexible.
84 percent stick with home office
According to the ifo survey, 84% of companies that offer home office plan to keep their policies unchanged. Only 12% plan stricter rules, and just 4% want to abolish working from home altogether.
On the other hand, many companies want to make their rules even more flexible. The institute concludes that the results disprove the widespread view that the trend is heading back to the office.
Public perception distorts the picture
Public debate focuses on individual companies that are scaling back home office – which exaggerates the actual development. Most recently, SAP, VW and Deutsche Bank tightened their home-office policies. The broader German economy, however, is not following that path.
Home office is possible in 79% of companies
Working from home is fundamentally possible in 79% of companies. This is far more common in large companies (93%) than in small and medium-sized employers (75%). Opportunities also depend heavily on the industry.
The unresolved issue: health at home
Despite the stable rate, one core challenge remains: around two-thirds of employees still work from home under unhealthy conditions. The impact on health, productivity and retention is enormous. The German Ministry of Labour also recently published new guidelines for mobile work.
Conclusion
Home office is here to stay – the question is no longer whether, but how. Companies that invest now in ergonomic equipment, clear policies and health protection at home secure a clear edge in the competition for talent.
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