Alternating Telework

Alternating telework allows employees to regularly carry out part of their work from home on a permanently installed computer (teleworking station) and the other part at the office (workplace) upon agreement with the employer. The teleworking station is connected to the office through information and communication technology.

The Flexible Work Location Agreement, which includes both alternating telework and mobile work, applies to all non-academic staff at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. It is also, upon request, available to academic staff.

Alternating telework, generally speaking, is voluntary and based on employees’ initiative.

In order to qualify for alternating telework, the nature of the work, the individual employees, and the general working conditions must be appropriate for alternating telework. This can be evaluated in the first step of the Flexible Work Location Agreement application.

Before applying, see the following documents for information (currently only available in German):

• Handreichung für Führungskräfte - Flexibilisierung des Arbeitsortes 
• Checkliste Selbsttest für Beschäftigte: Ist alternierende Telearbeit/mobile Arbeit eine geeignete Arbeitsform für mich?

Telework is not possible for work that must be carried out on-site, such as manual tasks or work requiring contact with the public.

Telework is not permitted for trainees and, in most cases, employees in their probationary period.

Alternating telework can generally be used for up to 50% of the employee’s monthly working time. The scope and duration of alternating telework must be agreed upon individually between the employee and their supervisor. Examples of telework include regularly working 1 or 2 days per week, one week per month, or half-days from the teleworking station.

The Alternating Telework Application Form includes a weekly timetable for entering specific working times. More flexible arrangements can also be entered into the timetable.

Telework can also be combined with mobile work. Employees can, generally speaking, carry out a maximum 50% of their monthly working hours as telework.

The Alternating Telework Application Form can only be requested by the employee.

The first step of the application process is a review of the Flexible Work Location Agreement by the employee and their supervisor.The alternating telework and mobile work requirements are then reviewed and the conditions agreed upon.

This agreement is a prerequisite for the Alternating Telework Application and serves as its basis.

The IT Security Officer responsible for the department must be involved in setting up the (mobile) device, and the Environmental Service Centre must ensure that occupational health and safety regulations are complied with.

The completed form must be approved by the supervisor (including signatures from the department/faculty/institution management) and submitted to the Personnel Department. 

Final approval is granted by the Personnel Department’s responsible administrator.

The Staff Council must be informed of approved applications.

If the application is rejected, the Staff Council has the right to co-determination.

Information on applying for telework can be found here.

In the case of alternating telework, employees are insured to the same extent as they would be if they were carrying out their tasks in the workplace.

In addition to the actual work, work-related tasks, such as walking to the printer in another room or movements within ones own home, for example to get a drink, something to eat, or use the restroom, are also insured.

An additional feature is that employees working from home are covered by insurance for trips they make to take their children to external childcare facilities. This means that when employees take their child(ren), who live with them in their home, to external childcare facilities, they are insured for the direct way there and back.

Further information can be found here.

Taxpayers can claim the home office allowance if they work from home. The allowance was increased, improved, and made permanent in 2023:Homeoffice-Pauschale wird verbessert | Bundesregierung

After submitting your income taxes, obtaining confirmation from your employer as soon as you are asked to provide proof that you are working from home is recommended. Generally speaking, this proof must be submitted to the tax authority within one month of being requested. Please contact your supervisor in good time for more information. A copy of this proof must also be submitted to the Personnel Department to be included in your file. Please use this template.