Working from Home Works

Hannah Zaunmüller: Remote work has functioned very well in the vast majority of cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are now integrating its beneficial aspects into a hybrid work model that enhances the flexibility of choosing the physical location where one works. The choice of work location, of course, also depends on specific job requirements and roles and on one’s personal situation. The detailed design of the hybrid model will ultimately be set by the individual departments to meet their different needs and local requirements.

I enjoy working from home, but I also like working on-site at SIX – we have a fantastic new HR office space.

Working from home ultimately demonstrated to many workers and line managers who were fundamentally opposed to it that it really works and has beneficial aspects. It has also given digital transformation a big boost. We have had to rethink and digitalize work processes. Moreover, demands on managers have changed, and employee health and well-being have gained new importance.

There have been a lot of studies about this. Some of them show that workers feel more productive working from home, and others actually verify higher productivity. As I said before, I think specific job requirements, roles, and workers’ personal situations are ultimately the decisive factors. A better work-life balance is possible in many cases. Working from home definitely saves time spent commuting to the office.

Working on-site facilitates social interaction, promotes team spirit, and fosters identification with SIX. Physical presence facilitates communication and cooperation. On-site office meetings are indispensable or advantageous for certain processes or functions such as recruiting or holding workshops. Moreover, working on-site offers some employees a quieter and better-equipped work environment or creates a clear separation between work and leisure time.

I’ve met with very many online, but with far too few in person – but I’m working on that.