Examination: Staying current with homework in the public sector work environment
In a recent survey, the Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB) revealed several challenges and regulatory issues faced by public sector employees working from home in Germany. The survey, conducted between January and May 2020, gathered insights from nearly 1,400 public sector employees, primarily civil servants and employees.
One of the main concerns highlighted by the survey is the lack of adequate technical equipment and IT infrastructure. Many employees reported that these limitations hinder their ability to work effectively from home.
Another significant issue is the blurring of boundaries between work and private life, leading to extended working hours and stress. This is exacerbated by the lack of uniform and binding standards concerning occupational health and safety for home office workers.
The survey also revealed that Germany's regulations, such as the "Arbeitsstättenverordnung" (Workplace Ordinance), are not always fully adapted or clearly implemented in the public sector. This creates a need for clearer legal frameworks, particularly regarding data protection and security, as public sector organizations grapple with strict data protection rules when dealing with remote access and sensitive information.
Management and trust issues also emerged as a challenge. Supervisors, who may lack experience in managing remote teams, can affect the efficiency and acceptance of home office arrangements.
Despite these challenges, the survey found that employees see the main advantage of home office in the greater flexibility it offers. However, 30% of public sector employees want to work from home, but only 22% are currently doing so.
DGB Vice-Chairwoman Elke Hannack emphasised the need for good working conditions to apply to home office work. She also called for clear legal regulations for home office work and better co-determination rights for works councils, allowing them to negotiate agreements with public employers on an equal footing.
The survey aimed to capture home office in "regular operation" and not just the improvised solution during the corona pandemic. Only those who had worked from home both during the crisis and before it were considered.
Support from superiors and employers in the public sector for home office work needs improvement, according to the survey. Employees often shorten or skip breaks while working from home, and more than half are using private equipment. Almost a third of respondents reported receiving little or no support from their superiors to work from home.
Despite these challenges, Hannack stated that many public sector employees want more opportunities to work from home, but not at the expense of further blurring the boundaries between work and private life. Good working conditions must also apply to home office work. She demanded good technical equipment such as laptops and work phones for employees.
The DGB has been actively engaged in advocating for stronger workers’ rights and better regulations concerning digital and home office work. Initiatives such as the Human Rights Due Diligence Competence Centre aim to strengthen workers’ protections under German and EU legislation. Efforts are ongoing for improved regulatory frameworks and workers’ rights protections.
- The challenges and regulatory issues in the home office workplace-wellness of public sector employees in Germany, as revealed by the DGB, extend beyond technical equipment and IT infrastructure, encompassing the blurring of work-life boundaries, management issues, and the need for clearer legal frameworks in health-and-wellness, data protection, and security.
- The finance sector plays a crucial role in this debate, as Germany's regulations, such as the "Arbeitsstättenverordnung" (Workplace Ordinance), must be adapted and fully implemented to ensure strict data protection rules when dealing with remote access and sensitive information in the public sector.
- While the survey showed that a significant number of public sector employees desire to work from home, many of them lacking the necessary support from their superiors, there is a growing need for good working conditions in home-and-garden environments to apply, including proper technical equipment like laptops and work phones.
- As the workplace-wellness industry evolves, the DGB, an advocate for stronger workers’ rights, pushes for improved regulatory frameworks and workers’ rights protections, particularly regarding digital and home office work, through initiatives like the Human Rights Due Diligence Competence Centre.
- In the contemporary business and technology landscape, a balanced lifestyle is essential, and amid the challenges faced by public sector employees working from home, the DGB calls for good working conditions in the home office setting to prevent the further blurring of work and private life, ultimately promoting a healthier and more productive workforce.
