VW's higher-ups are pulling their execs from their home offices and into the workplace. Instead of just one office day a week, management employees are now expected to hit the office four times weekly, as reported by Group circles on Friday. This shift happened on November 1 at the Wolfsburg, Emden, Osnabrück, and Zwickau production sites, as well as the Group's development department at the headquarters. Thousands of employees, including many in middle management, are impacted.
A VW representative stated, "To optimize hybrid work, it's crucial to achieve the right balance between remote work and office work." Volkswagen continues to offer remote work options where applicable. However, the rep didn't provide specifics on attendance requirements or changes.
Initially, Volkswagen had a lenient home office policy for non-production staff, with one weekly day in the office that could be made up in a four-day block each month. Volkswagen introduced this policy in March 2022 after the general in-home work requirement during the pandemic ended. Many remote employees took advantage of this, often relocating to their primary residence, sometimes far away. Some even gave up their second homes in Wolfsburg.
CEO Oliver Blume and brand boss Thomas Schäfer, who commutes from Ireland to Wolfsburg every week, have long advocated for in-office attendance.
Sources suggest the shift is due to product launches and the efficiency program. The program requires more on-site presence, as the essential details are being finalized through negotiations with the works council, with results expected by year's end.
The works agreement on mobile work remains unchanged, according to the works council. While allowing up to four workdays per week, it stresses no employee is entitled to a specific number of remote work days. The specific structure should always be tailored to operational needs.
VW's management is insisting on middle managers bringing their cars to the office four days a week, fulfilling the new policy that started in November. Volkwagen still permits remote work if it aligns with job requirements, aiming for work-life balance.
