Hybrid work at VWGIS
Colleague Jan reports about his experiences
Last year, VWGIS adopted the company agreement "Hybrid Work". It stipulates that employees can choose between different hybrid work models.
In this article, you can read about Jan's experiences with the hybrid work model at VWGIS from the "Research & Insghts" team, and what his personal assessment is with regard to everyday work.
Dear Jan, can you explain what a typical working day looks like for you in the office at the Hanover site?
"I usually start my office workdays - usually Tuesday and Thursday - in our beautiful office in Hanover around 9 a.m.. Before that, I try to get in some exercise at the nearby gym or outdoor pool, which means that the start and end times of my workday can vary from time to time. I ideally take my lunch break together with my colleagues, depending on whether a simultaneous break is possible. In general, however, I also appreciate the exchange with my colleagues in between. Around 4/17 p.m., I call it a day and head home."
As an employee, what benefits do you derive from the hybrid work model at VWGIS?
"The work model allows me to be quite flexible in adapting my daily schedule to my needs and commitments. Also, I could theoretically work from anywhere in Germany, for example, stand on the beach in Westerland with a camper van, do my work from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day, and then go surfing all afternoon. However, I don't have a camper van, nor can I surf 😉"
Are there any drawbacks to this model for you as an employee, or any challenges you've faced?
"What I've noticed above all is that the offices are nowhere near as well-staffed as they were before Corona. Especially on Mondays and Fridays, there is rarely anyone on site. Since at least a second person has to be at the site, you have to depend on other people to work in the office. Unfortunately, there is nowhere to see if another person would like to come to the office (except for those who do not have a fixed workstation and therefore have to book a place). Therefore, I cannot just spontaneously decide to go to the office, but always have to make sure of the presence of other colleagues.
I also notice that the home office leads to significantly less movement in my daily life, which I feel has a negative impact on my health. In general, you need to be much more proactive in bringing structure into your daily life and finding a clear demarcation between work and free time.
We have all learned that virtual collaboration can work very well. However, for me, collaboration with colleagues in the home office still doesn't have the same quality as in physical presence. I think that seeing team colleagues on a regular basis is indispensable for good collaboration. However, nowadays it is much more difficult to motivate colleagues to come to the office.
In my opinion, the bond to and identification with an employer is significantly lower due to the reduced shared physical experience. This can have a negative impact on job satisfaction, since there is no longer the feeling of working together for a cause that many others also stand by. We must and should (and do) put significantly more effort into establishing a culture and nurturing it, thus keeping commitment to GIS high and achieving high employee satisfaction."
What constitutes a good work-life balance for you? Has the possibility of hybrid working changed your work-life balance, and if so, how?
"The term work-life balance in itself is the wrong one from my point of view nowadays and for my understanding of work. It implies that work is not part of life or is in contrast to a "nice/fulfilling" life. Whoever understands his work predominantly as idle time, as duty without joy, is in my opinion in the wrong job. Almost everyone and especially everyone in our "social bubble" nowadays has the opportunity to pursue an activity that brings him/her joy. Spending a third of your day doing something you don't enjoy is, in my view, a waste of time.
For me, a good balance between work and private life means that I can organize my work and free time relatively flexibly. Hybrid work has changed little in that regard.
As already mentioned, for me the clear demarcation between work and free time in the home office requires significantly more active and conscious action or rituals. If you're already in the home office anyway, you're happy to accept appointments again at times when you actually wanted to be off work."
How do you imagine the workplace of the future?
"I like to sit at MY workstation, with a chair set for me, with my preferred arrangement of screens, etc. With virtual collaboration, it requires very good technology for video conferencing. In addition, for me personally, the most important thing for the design of a workplace are the colleagues. It is the people who give an office a face and a character. Other things like foosball tables, play stations, etc. are "nice to have" but not crucial for me, since I usually don't get to use them anyway."
Thank you dear Jan for the insights into your everyday work and sharing your personal assessments of the hybrid work model!