Homeoffice und Betriebsrat : Neue Herausforderungen für einen „alten Hasen“

The study “Working from home and works councils” examines whether perceptions relating to working from home are changing, what challenges this form of work generates for works councils, how works councils deal with it and what economic effects emerge. It is shown that in the wake of the pandemic the views of management regarding working from home are changing, whereas works councils retain their role as promoters. Furthermore, the results indicate that working from home will probably be part of a new normal. Works councils will then face a variety of challenges. Communicating with the workforce and activating them are proving to be central problems. These difficulties are being countered primarily with a virtualisation of works council work, the utilisation of co-determination rights and an “open ear policy”. From the perspective of works councils, in most cases working from home increases efficiency. It contributes to the economisation through the removal of boundaries, resulting in lower coordination costs and expenses for offices as well as by a higher pro­ductivity.