What is working from home?
Home office, also known as teleworking, describes a form of work in which employees carry out their professional tasks regularly or permanently from a permanently furnished workplace in their own home. In contrast to mobile working, which is characterized by changing work locations, home office always takes place at a fixed location – the home office. This form of work requires special equipment that meets the requirements of an office workplace.
Legal framework
In Germany, there is currently no statutory right to work from home. Whether an employee is allowed to work from home depends on individual agreements in the employment contract, collective agreement or works agreements.
Specific legal provisions apply to working from home:
- Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV): This ordinance applies if the employer sets up a fixed VDU workstation in the home office. In this case, the employer is obliged to provide the necessary equipment and ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG): Employers must also ensure the health and safety of employees working from home. This includes carrying out risk assessments and implementing appropriate protective measures.
- Working Hours Act (ArbZG): The statutory regulations on working hours, breaks and rest periods also apply when working from home. The employer is obliged to ensure compliance with these regulations.
- Data protection: When working from home, the protection of sensitive company data must be guaranteed. The employer is responsible for taking appropriate technical and organizational measures to prevent data protection breaches.
Advantages of working from home
- Work-life balance: By eliminating commuting times, employees can achieve a better work-life balance.
- Productivity: Many employees report increased concentration and efficiency in the home working environment.
- Cost savings: Both employers and employees can achieve financial benefits through reduced office space and lower travel costs.
- Environmental protection: Less commuter traffic helps to reduce CO₂ emissions.
The challenges of working from home
- Isolation: The lack of social interaction can lead to loneliness and reduced team cohesion.
- Working time management: The distinction between work and leisure time can become blurred, which can lead to overwork or inefficient time management.
- Technical equipment: Not all employees have the necessary technical infrastructure or a suitable workstation at home.
- Data security: Ensuring data protection requires additional measures and sensitization of employees.
Digital support through time recording solutions from ZMI
The time recording solutions from ZMI offer comprehensive support for companies and employees working from home:
- Flexible Time & Attendance: Employees can record their working hours via various end devices, regardless of their location, which enables precise documentation.
- Transparent working time models: The software enables adaptation to individual working time models and supports compliance with legal requirements.
- Data protection-compliant solutions: ZMI attaches great importance to the security of sensitive data and ensures that all data protection requirements are met.
- Integration into existing systems: The solutions from ZMI can be seamlessly integrated into existing HR and IT systems, which reduces administrative effort.
With the time recording solutions from ZMI, companies can make the most of the advantages of working from home and at the same time meet legal requirements.
Conclusion
Working from home has long been more than just a pandemic-related alternative model – it has established itself as an integral part of modern working cultures. The option of working from a fixed workplace at home offers many advantages, such as increased flexibility, higher productivity and a better work-life balance. At the same time, this form of working requires clear legal regulations, technical equipment and well thought-out Time & Attendance. With the digital solutions from ZMI, these requirements can be implemented efficiently and in compliance with data protection regulations – for more transparency, fairness and legal security in the home office.