Effective Working from Home

Choose a room with as much natural daylight as possible and make sure the space is evenly lit (avoid flickering light sources). Position your desk sideways along a window and create a visual separation from your living area—if necessary, use additional freestanding partitions.

When positioning your monitor, ensure that no light reflects on the screen and that you are not facing direct backlighting. Place the monitor 40–75 cm in front of you, depending on its size. Adjust the monitor height so that the top line of the screen is slightly below your horizontal line of sight, with a downward viewing angle of at least 20 degrees. The monitor may be slightly tilted.

Choose a desk that is at least 160 x 80 cm in size. Select a tabletop material that is non-reflective. Ensure that the legroom is at least 85 cm wide (120 cm or more is ideal). If possible, use a height-adjustable desk. This allows you to set it at elbow height (in an upright seating posture) to prevent back pain. A height-adjustable desk also enables you to change working positions, including standing, helping to reduce physical fatigue.

Choose an office chair that is height-adjustable and provides stable support. Make sure the backrest and armrests can be adjusted flexibly. When adjusting the chair, ensure the backrest supports you in all sitting positions and that the armrests are level with the tabletop. Sit using the full depth of the seat.

When equipping a home office, performance and reliability should be the top priority. The right equipment significantly improves workflow as well as eye and back health—this is not the place to cut corners. In addition to the desk and office chair, essential items include a large external monitor, a separate keyboard and mouse, and, if needed, a headset. We are happy to offer you our selection of home office products.

For a Wi-Fi connection, make sure you use WPA/WPA2 encryption. Especially when handling sensitive data, your IT department should set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect company data from cyberattacks. This also allows employees to securely access all important internal files. A remote desktop connection to the terminal server is recommended. All necessary programs are installed on the server and can be used without restrictions. Protect your devices with firewalls and encryption of hard drives and external storage media.

Consult your IT department about additional security measures, software updates, and possible solutions such as VPN, VPC (Virtual Private Clouds), and MDM applications. Minimize the use of private devices and strictly separate private and professional internet use.

With modern telecommunication systems and cloud-based phone solutions, calling from home is just as easy as from the office. Incoming calls can be forwarded effortlessly, and outgoing calls—also from mobile phones—can display the company extension number. This allows you to use your smartphone without revealing your private number.

Even during school closures, maintaining good education for children remains important. The internet and TV offer numerous opportunities. Try learning platforms like Sofatutor, Scoyo, Anton, or Lehrermarktplatz, or explore creative tools such as Stop Motion, Puppet, Digitalwerkstatt Box, or Kunst Studio. Educational TV shows, Netflix, or Amazon Video also offer documentaries about nature and science suitable for all ages.

In a traditional office environment, direct contact makes communication easy and intuitive. The challenge now is to maintain effective communication between employees while working remotely. Clear agreements and alternatives to in-person discussions are essential. Tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams enable quick coordination via chat or video meetings. Chats should only be used for business matters and not misused. Use video calls to maintain face-to-face communication—this helps prevent misunderstandings that can arise from written messages. One of the most widely used providers for video meetings is Zoom.

Structure and consistent work hours are important in the home office. Keeping your regular wake-up routine and wearing typical work clothes can help. If possible, physically and mentally separate your workspace from everyday household activities (family, roommates) and set clear daily goals. Methods such as the Eisenhower Matrix or the “Eat the Frog” method can support productivity. Limiting availability and communication to defined times reduces interruptions and ensures essential breaks.

Breaks are crucial for recharging and staying productive. In addition to a longer lunch break, plan small 5–10 minute coffee or tea breaks every 90 minutes. Since boundaries between private life and work often blur at home, define fixed start and end times and notify colleagues when you begin and finish your day.