Working from Home Before and After the Coronavirus: Effects and Gender Issues

Working from home (WFH) was and is an important instrument in the coronavirus crisis and will probably also strongly influence everyday working life in the future. This article presents the results of a survey among managers and HR managers at German companies on the impact of WFH on the working world. The study illustrates the growing importance of WFH during the coronavirus pandemic, with the extent of it dependent on industry and company size. While most companies had no problems implementing WFH, respondents expressed concerns about a deterioration in work results, particularly the quality of collaboration. In addition, the participants see women as more affected than men by the increased use of WFH and the coronavirus pandemic in general. The results of the study provide a mixed picture of the opportunities and problems of WFH and offer an important basis in the debate on the right to exercise WFH options.