BMAS Home Office Guidelines: 7 Steps for Hybrid Screen Work
The German Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) publishes recommendations for hybrid screen work – focusing on cost coverage and risk assessment.
Mobile work, home office and telework remain areas of significant ambiguity in HR. With the new guidelines from the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS), there is finally movement on this topic again.
The BMAS guidelines aim to balance office presence and home office work. The ministry recommends not relying solely on home office, but also creating optimal infrastructure for it. The guidelines are not binding but serve as recommendations.
Why hybrid work matters
BMAS acknowledges that hybrid work models increase flexibility and improve work-life balance. They also provide opportunities for people with disabilities to participate more in the workforce and facilitate reintegration after long periods of incapacity.
However, this new form of collaboration imposes higher and different demands on all parties. According to the ministry, employers must find fair and safe solutions for work design, even in the absence of formal telework agreements. Employees must self-organize more, while managers face the challenge of leading remotely and keeping distributed teams connected.
The 7 steps for designing good hybrid screen work
- Define terms, application areas, and goals
- Determine suitable mobile screen activities
- Establish time frames for hybrid screen work
- Set regulations for cost distribution or assumption
- Conduct risk assessments, determine and implement measures
- Inform and instruct employees
- Monitor the effectiveness of measures and adjust if necessary
Co-determination as a success factor
The ministry emphasizes the importance of involving employees and their representatives – such as the works council – in the process of establishing hybrid work guidelines. According to the ministry's observations, hybrid work usually functions well when there are rules for home office work at the company or collective level.
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How onyo supports companies
onyo helps companies implement the BMAS recommendations in practice – from equipping home workplaces and digital risk assessments to health promotion for remote employees.
Want to learn how to sustainably promote your employees' health in the home office and implement the BMAS guidelines with legal certainty? Book a consultation.
