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Home office is one of the most used words in the working world. But what sounds simple is often not. Here are some tips.

Explanatory video about children in the home office

In many professions today there is the possibility to do the work from home. This is precisely what is now in great demand in the crisis. Of course, home offices do not work in all professions.

Often start-ups, agencies or other digital service providers are already familiar with the home office. After all, they have been enabling their employees to work on the move for some time now. In other companies, the necessary conditions must first be created. This already starts with the necessary hardware, such as laptops. Furthermore, IT structures and trusted working hours are often foreign words for these companies. This page should help to react faster.

One of the most important points here is to create clear communication rules. So that the employees do not disappear in "anonymity". Define a communication channel. Because too many ways can quickly make you confused and do not help.

The next point is the right place to work at home. Lying in bed with your laptop on your feet or sitting at the kitchen table is certainly not the right thing. Find a place where you can be undisturbed and concentrated. The most important thing is a good Internet connection and a stable telephone reception. Then you can start working effectively from home.

Hold virtual meetings. When, how and where is best determined internally. But meetings are the main basis for continuing to work together and not losing track. Webex, Skype or other tools for conference calls are a good choice.

A day in the home office can be more productive and concentrated. After all, you are not regularly visited by your colleagues or your boss at his desk. But in times of Corona, daycare centers and schools are closed. You can keep the little ones busy for a short time but when the tasks are done they want to be entertained by their parents. One possibility would be to start earlier and take advantage of the morning rest, or to put the work in the evening when the partner can take over. Talk to your employer about the extent to which the working hours can be softened.

Do not forget to record your working hours. Stamping and the like is not possible at home. Excel and time recording tools are great alternatives here.

And last but not least, set up a schedule. Make a schedule of when you work and when there is time for other things. That way your work will be more structured and you won't work too much.

Questions and answers

That's a definite yes. You are entitled to the same breaks as in employment law in general. For example, if you work 6 hours or more, you are entitled to a 30-minute break; if you work more than 9 hours, you are entitled to a 45-minute break.

There are also clear rules here, you don't have to be available 24 hours a day just because you work at home. The boss is not allowed to demand this and it is also not necessary. You should only be reachable in your home office during normal working hours. After that the phone may also be off.

Short-time work applies only to employees who are subject to social insurance contributions. A shareholder-managing director who is exempt from social insurance is not entitled to short-time work money.

That depends entirely on your employer. Ask him to soften the working hours as long as possible. So that you can plan your time freely.