Public transport closures in Austria: Can we now demand more home offices?

Stressed people want this now at the latest Public transport usersThose who have to rush to the office in the scorching summer heat are returning to the home office more than ever. This would at least save you a long journey, detours, delays and nerves. However, this requirement does not currently seem to be that simple. Home office has been used in recent months – following the example of… Silicon Valley – scaled back in many places. The reason for this is that they want to see employees back in the office in order to strengthen creativity, team spirit and company loyalty. Nevertheless: Can you demand more home office in certain situations?

Anyone who has a question can ask for it

A press conference on Tuesday showed that home office is still a big issue. Discussed at the first Wolkenrot HR Panorama Julie Gruber (CEO, Wolkenrot), Gabriela Loreth-Kurz (CFO, Austrian Red Cross), Reinhard Pachner (Head of Human Resources, RAG Austria AG) and Martin Strohschneider (CFO, Insulation Technology Group) about current developments on the labor market. The desire for more home offices was mentioned several times, especially in the context of the “demanding” Generation Z.

According to HR expert Julie Gruber, such demands depend heavily on the respective situation and also on the person: “If you are qualified and have something that is in demand, you can make demands. It’s a matter of negotiation,” she says. According to the principle: whoever has, can.

Martin Strohschneider from the Insulation Technology Group experiences a similar situation in his company, as he reported during the press conference. “Working from home is definitely possible these days,” he says. However, he also shares the opinion of those companies that are calling their employees back to the office. In the long term, it could have a negative impact on the team, “if you don’t have a place to stay or a place where you can come together regularly. Cohesion suffers.”

That’s why the rules in his company are clear: you remain flexible. Employees can work from home two days a week. At the same time, there are core days when everyone has to be in the office. And what does labor law say about special home office regulations?

A win-win situation for everyone involved

Die Vienna Chamber of Labor gives a very clear answer: Home office is a matter of agreement: “That means, in principle, you can agree on a home office with your employer in any company, but there is no right to a home office.”

Nevertheless, HR expert adds Tina Krainer von Wolkenrot said that it would be useful in terms of modern forms of work if employees actively addressed the issue and asked their employer to work from home more. For desperate public transport users this means: seek a constructive and solution-oriented conversation.

“Employees should not only focus on their own desire for more flexibility, but also show what benefits a home office arrangement can have for the company,” explains Krainer. Especially in special situations – such as strikes, route closures or other problems with travel – a home office agreement can be helpful for both sides.

“Employees can therefore do their work reliably and are still available for customer inquiries or operational tasks. At the same time, the employer avoids cancellations or delays.”

One thing is clear for the expert: “If employees justify their concerns well and show that they continue to take responsibility for their tasks, the desire for more flexibility is often perceived positively.” At the same time, however, companies should make sure to also think about employees for whom working from home is not an option. “A balanced design of working conditions and additional benefits can help create acceptance within the entire team and promote fair cooperation.”