Failures of employers

Remote and hybrid working models

A Future of Work survey of German employers and employees by Ergotron sheds light on poor workplace amenities in remote and hybrid work models and reveals a worrying lack of consideration for employee comfort and well-being. For example, only 61 percent of employers said they regularly check in with all employees about their health and well-being. Only 59 percent of all employees were provided with a laptop for work outside the office. In contrast, 73 percent of employees say they choose their next employer based on the following criteria: Support in terms of physical and health well-being, and provision of flexible technologies.

However, employers show great ambition to make remote work a success. Seventy-six percent think it's important for employees to be able to switch between sitting and standing to meet physical demands while working (the figure is as high as 100 percent for healthcare employers). Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of workers also consider this essential. Given the need to collaborate with remote teams and work from anywhere, technology flexibility and device mobility are also critical. Sixty-four percent of employees and 74 percent of employers agree that IT devices must be mobile in order to work regardless of location. Yet only 71 percent of employers say they provide employees with a laptop for home, office or a third workstation.

The survey results thus show a clear discrepancy between what employees consider essential equipment and what employers provide. Although 79 percent of employees and 81 percent of employers say a laptop is important, only 59 percent of all employees say they have received one. In contrast, 71 percent of employers confirm they provide one. Sixty-three percent of employers reported the importance of a large-screen monitor (between 30 and 49 inches) for employees. Yet less than one-third of employees report receiving one.