Working from home has seen a major surge, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Around 20% of the workforce now works from home at least part-time, with a staggering 2.3 million people entirely avoiding the office. This substantial growth in remote working has nearly quadrupled since the pandemic's outbreak.
According to a report in the Rheinische Post and information from the Federal Ministry of Labor, the number of employees working from home exclusively has skyrocketed. In 2019, before the pandemic, only 674,000 individuals were working remotely. Fast forward to 2022, and that figure has soared to 2.3 million.
Additionally, data from the Federal Ministry of Labor reveals that more and more German employees are embracing the occasional home office. The number of part-time remote workers increased from 10.5% in 2019 to 22.6% in 2021, totalling 8.4 million people.
Interestingly, the trend of remote work has had a significant impact across different age groups. Among young workers aged 15-24, the number of home office enthusiasts quadrupled between 2019 and 2022. Meanwhile, older workers aged 55-64 tripled their home office usage, and those between 25-54 saw a staggering 60% increase.
However, the surge in remote working has brought forth concerns about work-life balance. Left Party politician Susanne Ferschl called for protective measures, citing numerous studies showing increased stress levels among remote workers due to constant availability, increased flexibility requirements, and work intensification. She advocated for clear regulations such as working time documentation and a right to disconnect from work.
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