Deutsche Bank boss suffers home office defeat
Christian Sewing wishes that "his" bankers would work more in the office again. The executive board chief must, however, step back in the fight for new home office rules. Employees who make extensive use of the current possibilities can continue to do so for the time being. At least for now.
According to a letter from the corporate and works council obtained by Handelsblatt, German employees who have worked from home for three days a week or both Fridays and Mondays can continue these work models for the time being. Sewing had intended to abolish this practice with an email in February.
Management and works councils have reportedly been arguing about new home office rules for months. At most, two days should be able to be worked outside of the office in the future, only one from management. Working from home on Fridays and Mondays at the same time should no longer be an option. According to the newspaper's information, up to 60 percent mobile work - officially an exception - was widespread, with approximately 10,000 employees making use of it.
In the abolition of the Monday/Friday combination, it appears that Sewing is also aiming for more even distribution of office spaces. The plans did not go over well with employees, as shown by 1,300 critical comments in the intranet within a short time. The debate about home office rules is currently being conducted in many companies, with many wishing for more presence of their employees after the end of the Corona pandemic. However, stricter rules apply at several other financial institutions than at the German Bank.
Deutsche Bank's economy could potentially benefit from more employees working in the home office less frequently, as suggested by the current practice allowing three days a week or both Fridays and Mondays from home. However, Deutsche Bank's executive board chief, Christian Sewing, aims to reduce this to a maximum of two days, with management only able to work from home one day.
Recent arguments between Deutsche Bank's management and works council have centered around the desire to implement stricter home office rules. As per reports, these changes could lead to a decrease in the number of employees working from home on Fridays and Mondays simultaneously, and a potential reduction in the overall number of days employees can work from home.
