The trend of working from home seems unstoppable, and a growing number of people are showing a preference for remote work. Regardless of whether employed or self-employed: Which work type you are and how to get the most out of working from home and remote work is revealed in this article.

What type of work best suits you

Whether working from home or remote work is right for you depends on individual preferences, the type of work you do and other factors. Answer the following questions to determine if you are well-suited for remote work.

1. Are you disciplined enough to maintain a clear separation between your workplace and your home?

2. Would you prefer to use the time you normally spend commuting to work more productively?

3. Are you willing to forgo personal contact with colleagues in favour of greater privacy?

4. Does the idea of designing your own workspace to maximise your productivity and comfort appeal to you?

5. Would you like to have more time for your personal life and a better life-work balance?

6. Are you ready to tackle communications challenges with team members and possibly learn new tools?

7. Do you feel you are able to minimise distractions in your home environment in order to work productively?

8. Are you aware that "disappearing" by working from home can affect your career opportunities?

9. Do you feel comfortable having less direct contact with colleagues and doing more independent work instead?

Evaluation: The more "yes" answers you have given, the more clearly suited you are for working from home and the more likely you are to benefit from the various concepts of remote work. If your answers are mixed, then you would probably prefer a blend of remote work and a fixed workspace. If you answered overwhelmingly with "no," then you would probably prefer a fixed workspace that does not entail working from home.

A solution that lies somewhere between working from home and a permanent workplace, whether you are employed or a freelancer, could be a temporary workspace. For professionals like freelancers or entrepreneurs, Office Club offers flexible workspaces – cost-effective coworking options that don't tie you to long-term leases. Such remote workplaces are the ideal solution for many people to escape the isolation of working from home. In addition to flexible coworking desks, we also rent lockable offices and fixed workspaces at our Coworking Spaces and Business Centres.

Remote Working – Tips for Efficiency and Comfort

In general, it is important to design the work environment outside of a conventional office with productivity, comfort and safety in mind. The following factors play an important role:

Separation of work and private life: If it is possible with the space you have available to you, it is extremely important to create a clear separation between working and living areas. This can be done by means of a coworking space or, at home, by working in a separate room designated for that purpose. Don’t forget, such spaces can also be deducted from your taxes! If you do not have an extra room at home, then room dividers like plants, shelves or other privacy elements can help to spatially delimit your working area.

Working hours: To maintain a healthy work-life balance, you should also adhere to set working hours when working remotely. Doing so prevents your working hours from leaking into your private time. Some people find it helpful to set a "time to stop working alarm" half an hour before the targeted end of the workday to remind them to start wrapping things up.

Schedule breaks: Even if you don’t have a cafeteria available or colleagues to spend your time with, don't forget to take regular breaks. These help keep productivity high and stress levels low. Here, too, a timer can be useful.

Ergonomic setup: If you work from home, invest in a comfortable chair and make sure your desk is the right height. This promotes healthy posture and reduces the risk of tension. Some employers subsidize ergonomic equipment for employees who work from home.

Maintain communication: Although you work from home, it is important to maintain regular contact with colleagues, clients and customers. Video calls are often the best solution for “face-to-face” communicating, even when far away from the office. For regular ad-hoc exchanges with colleagues, messenger services are a good option.

Decorate your work environment: A tidy, bright and friendly workplace can significantly increase productivity and well-being. Plants and enough space can work wonders.

Sensitive documents: Another critical issue in remote work is data protection. Neither office mates, nor family members, nor roommates, nor guests should have access to sensitive work documents. It is advisable to store documents or your work laptop in a lockable cabinet at the end of the day. This can also help to ensure the separation of work and private life. 

Remote Work: More than Just Working at Home

Beyond simply "working from home," there has been more and more talk lately of "remote work." The term covers not only working from home, but also any work that is done outside the company or a fixed workspace thanks to IT connectivity. Remote work thus includes working in a coworking space of your choice, on the train, at the hotel bar or even a "workation" at vacation destinations.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, extended stays in warmer countries in Southern Europe have been especially popular with many employees, particularly in the winter months. Recruiters can conduct job interviews from Rimini, and editors can stroll along La Rambla in Barcelona after work. These examples show that work and vacation are no longer mutually exclusive for many people. Freelancers have an advantage here, whereas employees are dependent on the consent of their employers.

No Legal Right to Work from Home Yet

Although the coronavirus pandemic was a real booster for working at home concept, workers currently have no automatic right to perform their work duties from home or remotely. During the coronavirus, the German government did establish a temporary law requiring employers to permit their workers to do their jobs from home to help contain the spread of the disease, but that regulation expired on April 7, 2023.

Thus far, employers have had the final say and can allow or prohibit staff from working at home, without even needing to provide justification. The "right of direction" allows employers to decide when, how and where their workers are required to carry out their duties. Since the pandemic, however, the acceptance of people working from home has increased at many companies. Laws are currently in the planning stages that will regulate the right to work remotely.

So why not plan the next workation for the winter now? With these tips, nothing will stand in the way of productive remote work.