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Practical guides for office managers building better hybrid workplaces. Learn how to optimize space utilization, automate operations, and support distributed teams.

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Office Insights

Workplace Safety in the Office: Legal Obligations, Ergonomics and Prevention

Workplace safety in the office serves to maintain employee health and provide legal protection for employers. In modern hybrid offices, safety places new demands on the organization of desk sharing and mobile work.

Workplace Safety in the Office: Key Takeaways

  • Legal framework for workplace safety in the office: The foundation consists of the Occupational Safety Act (ArbSchG), the Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV) and DGUV Information 215-410.
  • Risk assessment in the office: The employer must identify and document the risks (physical and psychological) for each workplace.
  • Ergonomics: Desks, chairs and monitors must be adjustable to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.
  • Personnel: Depending on company size, safety officers, first aiders and fire safety assistants must be appointed in the required numbers.
  • Safety briefings: At least once a year, all employees must be instructed on the hazards and protective measures in the workplace.

What legal regulations apply to workplace safety in the office?

Workplace safety in the office is primarily governed by the Occupational Safety Act (ArbSchG) and the Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV), which are further specified by DGUV Information 215-410.

These regulations require employers to systematically assess hazards, comply with technical standards for computer workstations and ensure employee safety through regular briefings and the provision of first aiders.

  • Occupational Safety Act (ArbSchG): It forms the foundation and obliges the employer under § 5 to conduct a risk assessment. The goal is to design work in such a way that hazards to life and physical and mental health are avoided.
  • Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV): It defines minimum requirements for the operation of workplaces. This includes aspects such as room temperature, ventilation, lighting and the design of computer workstations.
  • DGUV Information 215-410 (formerly BGI 650): This guideline from the German Social Accident Insurance is the most important practical standard for offices. It contains detailed requirements for ergonomics, floor space and the safety-related design of work equipment.
  • Display Screen Equipment Regulation (now part of ArbStättV): It sets specific requirements for the quality of monitors, keyboards and software ergonomics to prevent strain on the eyes and musculoskeletal system.

Responsibility and Implementation of Workplace Safety in the Office

The employer is solely responsible for compliance with and implementation of all measures. For support, from the very first employee, the employer is required to provide proof of safety engineering and occupational health care (according to ASIG and DGUV Regulation 2).

Occupational safety specialists (Sifa) and company physicians provide advisory services, but keeping escape routes clear or correctly adjusting office furniture falls under the responsibility of the respective managers or office management.

How is a risk assessment created for office workplaces?

The risk assessment is the required tool for identifying risks to employee health and initiating countermeasures. According to § 5 of the Occupational Safety Act, every employer is obliged to conduct this assessment for all workplaces, document it and update it regularly.

  1. Define work areas: Divide the office into meaningful units, for example individual offices, open spaces, meeting rooms.
  2. Identify hazards: Record all physical and psychological stresses.
  3. Assess hazards: Evaluate the risk (probability of occurrence and severity of potential damage).
  4. Define protective measures: Select appropriate measures according to the TOP principle (Technical before Organizational before Personal).
  5. Implement measures: Carry out the planned improvements.
  6. Check effectiveness: Verify whether the measures have actually reduced the risk.
  7. Document and update: Legally compliant documentation of results and adaptation when changes occur (e.g. new office furniture or software).

Consideration of Psychological Stress in the Office

Since 2013, the Occupational Safety Act has explicitly required that the psychological risk assessment must also be part of the process. In the office, the focus is on factors such as work intensification, constant availability, lack of recovery periods or inadequate work organization. The goal is the prevention of stress-related illnesses and burnout.

Special Case: Risk Assessment for Hybrid Work (Office/Home Office)

Due to the alternation between office and home office, the assessment must extend beyond time spent in the office. The employer must also consider hazards for working from home and on the go. Since the employer has no direct right of inspection in the private space of employees, this is done through self-assessment questionnaires and instructions for the ergonomic design of the home workplace.

What ergonomic requirements must office workplaces meet?

Workplace ergonomics aims to adapt working conditions to the physical characteristics of people. The overarching goal is to prevent improper strain and chronic musculoskeletal disorders .

DGUV Information 215-410 and the standards DIN EN 527-1 (desks) and DIN EN 1335 (office chairs) define exact minimum requirements for this purpose.

The Ergonomic Office Chair

A suitable chair must allow dynamic sitting and be individually adjustable:

  • Seat height: The thighs should slope slightly downward, with feet flat on the floor (knee angle approx. 90° or slightly more).
  • Backrest: It must have lumbar support that supports the natural curvature of the spine in the lower back area.
  • Dynamics: The backrest should be movable (synchronous mechanism) to encourage alternating between leaning forward and backward.

The Office Desk

The desk must provide sufficient space for work equipment and the correct working height:

  • Dimensions: The standard surface area is 160 x 80 cm. A depth of at least 80 cm is necessary to maintain the viewing distance to the monitor.
  • Height: For fixed desks, the standard measurement is 74 cm (± 2 cm). However, height-adjustable sit-stand desks (switching between 65 cm and 125 cm) are ideal for reducing cardiovascular strain.
  • Surface: It must be low-reflection and matte to avoid glare from light sources.

Monitor and Input Devices for the Office

The placement of technology affects the strain on neck and eyes:

  • Viewing distance: Depending on monitor size, this should be between 50 cm and 70 cm.
  • Viewing angle: The top line on the screen should be well below eye level, so that the gaze is slightly tilted downward.
  • Arrangement: The monitor must be positioned directly in front of the user (no twisted posture). Keyboard and mouse should be placed so that the forearms can rest relaxed on the desk.

Light, Noise and Climate in the Office

  • Lighting: For office work, an illuminance of at least 500 lux is required. Natural daylight is preferred, while glare must be prevented using blinds.
  • Noise: The sound pressure level should not exceed 55 dB(A) for predominantly mental tasks.
  • Indoor climate: The recommended room temperature is between 20°C and 22°C. The relative humidity should be between 40% and 60%.

How many first aiders and safety officers do I need for the office?

The number of persons to be appointed for occupational safety is legally defined and depends on the number of insured persons present in the workplace according to DGUV Regulation 1.

  • First aiders: In offices with up to 20 employees present, one first aider must be appointed. From 21 employees onwards, at least 5% of the workforce must be trained as first aiders.
  • Safety officers (SiBe): From a company size of 20 employees, the appointment of at least one safety officer is mandatory. They support the employer on a voluntary basis in accident prevention.
  • Fire safety assistants: Here too, a quota of typically 5% of employees applies. Find all details about training and equipment for fire safety in the office.

Important for planning: The employer must ensure through vacation and sick leave periods as well as hybrid work models that the required number of helpers are physically present in the office at all times.

How is workplace safety implemented in the office with desk sharing and hybrid work?

The introduction of work models such as desk sharing and hybrid work fundamentally changes the requirements for occupational safety. Companies must ensure that the protection goals of the Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV) are also achieved with daily user changes and in the home office.

  • Ergonomics: Since every employee has different physical requirements, shared workplaces (shared desks) must be versatile and easily adjustable.
  • Space utilization and capacities: In open-space concepts, there is a risk of overcrowding, which increases noise levels and can undermine escape route concepts.
  • Psychological stress: The uncertainty of not finding an adequate workplace in the morning ("desk hunting") creates additional stress and reduces concentration.
  • Hygiene: Frequent user changes require hygiene rules and adapted cleaning cycles.

How does booking software help with workplace safety and health in the office?

PULT is our software for workplace and room booking as well as automated presence detection. It serves many employers as a platform to fulfill their duty of care. The software includes features for ergonomics, emergency management and health protection:

  • Equipment filter: Employees can specifically search for workplaces with height-adjustable desks (sit-stand desks), ergonomic chairs or special monitors.
  • Fixed assignments when needed: For employees with special medical or physical requirements, PULT enables permanent reservation of fixed workplaces as an exception to desk sharing.
  • Emergency Export: At the push of a button, administrators generate a list of all persons actually present. Thanks to WiFi detection (PULT Presence), "no-shows" or spontaneous visitors are also precisely recorded.
  • Capacity control: The software automatically prevents overcrowding of zones. This way, fire safety regulations and escape route capacities are technically accounted for.
  • AI Health & Safety Agent: Our AI agent helps convert occupational safety regulations into tasks and pre-fill compliance documents for audits with real presence data.
  • Noise and acoustic management: Through clear zoning into quiet and team zones as well as the bookability of phone booths, acoustic stress is reduced.
  • Psychological relief: The guarantee of a firmly reserved workplace eliminates the stress of morning searching and ensures a calm start to the workday.
Tip: Learn more about automatic presence detection via WiFi at PULT Presence.

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Office Insights

Measuring and increasing office attendance: Calculation and software

Office attendance remains a balancing act between presence and working from home. Many employees only work on site for part of the week. To encourage them to come into the office more often, it is worth making the working environment and equipment more attractive.

Office Attendance: TL;DR

  • Mandatory attendance rules in office do not increase productivity; rather, they reduce satisfaction and increase turnover.
  • Attendance data can be used to reduce the number of individual workstations and create space for collaboration, breaks, and team zones.
  • Actual office attendance can be measured by utilization, attendance days, and no-show rates. The most reliable way to do this is with an office attendance tracker that combines booking and Wi-Fi data.
  • With office attendance software such as PULT, you receive real-time data on the use of your workstations and can derive targeted measures to increase attendance.

How do I measure office attendance?

You can measure office attendance using three key figures: workplace utilization, average attendance days per employee, and the peak day rate. In addition, no-show rates for bookings provide valuable information about how reliably your office is actually being used.

  • Workplace utilization shows you how many workstations are actually occupied in relation to the available spaces.
  • Days of attendance per capita show whether your employees tend to be in the office two, three, or even four to five days a week.
  • The peak day rate tells you how high utilization is on peak days.
  • No-shows indicate that employees book spaces or rooms but then do not use them.

You can record office attendance manually by counting and keeping your own Excel lists. This gives you initial indications, but is very time-consuming.

Classic booking systems go one step further. They show you which workstations or rooms have been reserved. The catch: a booking does not automatically mean that the space was actually used, and no-shows distort the picture. 

The most reliable way to measure true office attendance is PULT Presence, an attendance software for your office. This records both bookings and actual attendance in the office. The recording takes place as soon as employees' laptops, tablets, or smartphones connect to the company Wi-Fi. This also works via your existing Wi-Fi infrastructure.

Tip: With the office evaluation feature in PULT, you can see exactly how your office is actually being used. You can record actual attendance, bookings, no-shows, and peak days in one office attendance system in PULT.

Discover PULT

What can office attendance data be used for?

Office attendance data allows you to use your existing office space in ways that were not possible before. Utilization figures enable you to offer your employees the rooms and zones that they actually want.

  • Fewer fixed workstations: If you notice that many individual workstations regularly remain empty, you can reduce their number. A desk-sharing concept makes it possible to have fewer desks without anyone being left empty-handed. You can use the space that becomes available for other purposes.
  • Create rooms that are in demand: Meeting rooms and team zones are in greater demand than traditional individual workstations. With the square footage you gain, you can set up meeting rooms, project areas, or creative zones that offer your employees real added value.
  • Attractive break and relaxation options: Lounges, kitchenettes, or even sports areas make the office a place where people enjoy spending time. These areas are difficult to replace in a home office, and that is precisely what motivates people to come to the office voluntarily.
  • Increase employer attractiveness: A modern, well-equipped office is also an argument in recruiting. Applicants are increasingly looking for a workplace that offers exchange, well-being, and relaxation.
Tip: Many employers want their employees to return to the office from working at home. With positive measures, you too can make a successful return to the office.

What is the impact of compulsory office attendance?

According to recent studies, compulsory office attendance does not lead to increased performance, but rather reduces satisfaction and can sometimes increase staff turnover. Younger generations are particularly affected.

  • No increase in productivity: Analyses of companies with mandatory office attendance policies show that performance does not increase and in some cases even declines.
  • Declining satisfaction: Employees feel patronized, which has a negative effect on motivation and loyalty to the company.
  • Higher staff turnover: Many resign or look for new opportunities when they lose flexibility due to rigid attendance requirements.
  • Unequal impact: Studies show that women, high-performing employees, and millennials are particularly likely to resign when mandatory office attendance is introduced.

Measurements as the first step toward increased office attendance

The option of spending individual workdays in a home office has become standard for employees. At least, that is true for professions where it is actually possible. However, office attendance is also a valuable asset that employers rightly want to see return.

The return to the office and thus increased office attendance is best achieved through positive motivation. Coercion tends to lead to attrition. Any measures that make your office more attractive are considered suitable motivators. Offer your employees something that their homes cannot provide.

In order to free up space for lounges, team areas, quiet areas, or even sports rooms, you will need to redesign the existing space and reduce the number of individual workstations. The first link in this chain is therefore to measure the current office utilization. And this is best achieved with Office Insights from PULT.

Important: As more colleagues return to the office, booking and attendance figures will naturally shift. Therefore, keep an eye on the trend in PULT, which is very easy to do using Office Insights.

By observing booking behavior, you can readjust the availability of individual workstations. This ensures that all employees can reliably book a free space at any time.

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Desk Booking

Clean Desk Policy: Rules, Benefits, and Downloadable Template

Clean desk policy definition: It describes binding rules for handling workplaces and work equipment. Among other things, it stipulates that confidential information must not be left openly accessible at the workplace, either in paper form or on screens.

Go directly to download

Clean Desk Policy: TL;DR

  • A clean desk policy is an internal guideline that stipulates that workstations must be completely tidy and free of documents or personal items at the end of the working day.
  • The aim of the clean desk policy is security. It should protect company data and ensure that workstations in desk sharing can be used immediately by others.
  • Important aspects of the clean desk policy include: secure storage of documents, locking devices, using the cloud instead of external data carriers, disposing of paper, and clear end-of-day routines.
  • The following applies to home offices and other work locations: Documents and devices should be secured so that guests or strangers cannot see them.

What is a clean desk policy?

A clean desk policy contains rules for the secure storage of documents and data carriers, for locking screens, for the destruction of paper waste, and for the protection of access data. It also stipulates that workstations must be left free of confidential materials at the end of the day.

  • Document storage: Documents containing confidential or personal data must be stored in lockable cabinets, lockers, or rolling containers.
  • Screen lock: Computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and terminals must be locked as soon as the workstation is left.
  • Notes and data carriers: Records, USB sticks, or external hard drives must not be left lying around.
  • Paper disposal: Printouts must be destroyed using a document shredder or other secure disposal system.
  • Password protection: Access data must not be stored in writing at the workplace.
  • Cleaning and tidiness: Workstations must be left free of documents and materials at the end of the working day.

Download: Clean Desk Policy template

You can download the Clean Desk Policy template free of charge. It contains:

  • a brief introduction with purpose and scope,
  • rules for documents, data carriers, devices, and workstations,
  • instructions for review,
  • friendly wording that can be easily adapted to your company.

You can use the template and customize it for your company.

Clean Desk Policy Template (PDF)

How do I implement a clear desk policy?

Before introducing a clean desk policy, assess the current situation, formulate the objectives, and establish the rules. Then provide the necessary equipment, discuss the policy with employees, and establish it in everyday working life.

Step 1: Analyze the current situation before introducing the clean desk policy

  • Observe how workstations are currently being used: What materials are often left lying around? What items are disruptive? (e.g., cables, personal items, printouts)
  • Find out which workstations handle company data or which teams have special requirements (e.g., video production, camera teams, archiving work).
  • Determine what equipment is already available (lockable cabinets, lockers, cloud access, secure waste bins).

Step 2: Formulate the objectives and meaning of the clean desk policy

  • Specify that all workstations must be left as they were found at the end of the booked working period so that others can use them immediately.
  • Specify data protection requirements, for example, no leaving company data or customer documents lying around openly

Step 3: Create rules for the clean desk policy and put them in writing

  • Develop and supplement your own rules based on the download template: documents, devices, personal items, cleanliness, etc.
  • Define exceptions, for example, for external hard drives for the video team

Step 4: Provide equipment

  • Lockable lockers for personal items (jackets, backpacks, bicycle helmets, etc.) and compartments for personal work equipment (headsets, noise-canceling headphones, mice, keyboards, etc.)
  • Cloud software and cloud storage so that documents are not stored locally on devices
  • Tools such as document shredders or secure containers for disposal
  • Cleaning stations with disinfectant and wipes so that the workplace can be left in a hygienic condition.

Step 5: Communication & employee involvement

  • Present and explain the clean desk policy in team meetings, collect questions
  • Enable employees to contribute ideas and requests, for example regarding storage options, workplace equipment, personal equipment

Step 6: Establish the clean desk policy in everyday life

  • End-of-day routine: Describe tasks that should be completed before the end of the working day and before leaving the workplace.
  • Reminders: Posters of the clean desk policy, digital notices, checklists at workstations.
  • Responsibilities: Who ensures compliance with the clean desk policy? Who takes action when rules are not followed?

Step 7: Review and monitor the clean desk policy

  • After a few weeks, evaluate together whether the rules of the clean desk policy are working, are realistic to comply with, and where there is room for improvement.
  • Seek discussions with employees to identify weaknesses in the clean desk policy
  • Modify rules, improve equipment, and/or change processes

Is a clean desk policy also necessary when working from home?

A clean desk policy also protects confidential information from unauthorized access when working from home. In addition to family members, guests or tradespeople may occasionally be present, or you may be living in a shared apartment. 

  • Confidentiality: Put away documents containing company data after work, especially if you work in living rooms or shared rooms.
  • Storage: Store documents in lockable folders or cabinets, not openly on the table or shelf.
  • Devices: Lock your laptop, monitor, or tablet when you finish work.
  • Cloud use: Consistently save files in the company cloud instead of locally on private devices.
  • Separation of work and private life: Clearly separate work documents from private correspondence, documents, etc.
Tip: Consider other work locations in the clean desk policy
For employees who travel a lot, you should explicitly extend the clean desk policy to their work locations:
- At customers' premises
- At trade fairs and conferences
- In coworking spaces
- In hotels

What are the benefits and disadvantages of a clean desk policy?

A clean desk policy improves data protection, makes it easier to work in shared offices, and ensures a uniform standard for handling workstations. However, practical issues or resistance may arise during implementation.

Benefits of a clean desk policy

  • Protection of confidential information: Open documents or unlocked screens are a common cause of data breaches. A clean desk policy counteracts this.
  • Smooth workplace change: In offices with desk sharing, everyone can start immediately without having to tidy up or move other people's documents aside.
  • Professional impression: Visitors, applicants, customers, or new employees experience a tidy and inviting office.
  • Routines: The end-of-day routine ensures that the working day is consciously concluded.

Disadvantages of a clean desk policy and solutions

  • Additional effort: Tidying up at the end of the working day takes a few minutes. Solution: With a clear routine using a checklist, it rarely takes longer than five minutes. However, this short effort saves all colleagues time at the start of the next working day because all workstations are immediately ready for use.
  • Feeling of control: Some people perceive the policy as restrictive or patronizing. Solution: Instead of imposing rules from above, it helps to explain the reasons behind them openly: data protection and the fair and collegial use of shared spaces.
  • Practical hurdles: Lack of cabinets, storage space, or cloud access. Solution: Before the policy is made binding, the necessary resources should be in place: lockers, secure disposal systems, and reliable cloud software.
Tip: Desk Sharing rules

The Clean Desk Policy specifically applies to your team's workspaces. Desk sharing rules can help you use shared workspaces, the office, meeting rooms, and zones fairly and without conflict.

Clean Desk Policy and Fairness with PULT

A Clean Desk Policy ensures that everyone in the team finds their booked workspace ready for use. Desk booking in PULT follows the same principle: your team books desks, zones, rooms, or parking spaces via the software. Everyone has access to the same resources, which creates fairness in usage.

Fairness also means that reserved spaces are not blocked if they are unused. With PULT Presence, automatic check-in takes place via your existing Wi-Fi. If there is no check-in, the space is released again after a defined period of time and is thus available to other colleagues.

The evaluation in PULT Office Insights shows you whether the clean desk policy and desk sharing rules are working. There you can see how workstations, rooms, and zones are actually being used and get direct feedback from the team.

Tip: Find out more about office insights in PULT here and desk booking here.

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Hybrid Work

Agile Workplace Explained: Interaction Between Spaces, Work Equipment, and Culture

Many companies have been able to reduce the space required for individual workstations by 40 to 50 percent thanks to the agile workplace. This space now benefits the team: as places for collaboration, retreat, quiet and concentrated work, or as a balance to otherwise demanding work.

Agile Workplace: TL;DR

  • An agile workplace is an office with different zones for concentration, collaboration and exchange, as well as relaxation and balance.
  • Activity-based working is the most common model of the agile workplace: the activity determines the chosen workplace within the agile workplace.
  • Many large companies use agile workplaces to strengthen collaboration among employees and make targeted use of the available space.
  • Studies show that an agile workplace works best with quiet areas, clear rules for allocating space, and accompanying change management.
  • With the agile workplace management software PULT, space allocation in the agile workplace can be managed easily and fairly.

What is an agile work environment?

The term agile workplace refers to the entire work environment, i.e., the office with all its equipment and the way teams work and interact with each other. An agile workplace creates conditions that allow work to be organized and completed in line with daily requirements.

  • Spaces: Instead of fixed seating arrangements, the agile workplace consists of different areas. There are individual workstations for quiet and concentrated work, open spaces for workshops and teamwork, and meeting rooms that can be quickly set up depending on the size of the team and the task at hand.
  • Work tools: The work tools in the agile workplace are designed for constant collaboration. This includes cloud software that is shared and synchronized across devices. Content that has already been developed can be shared and edited together. The hardware is also designed with this in mind, with laptops and tablets being used instead of permanently installed desktop computers.
  • Culture: The Agile Workplace also refers to the team's attitude toward their own work. Everyone takes responsibility for their part of the work and the team's performance. Work performance is evaluated based on results and no longer on hours of attendance. Rooms, structures, and processes are continuously evaluated to determine whether they still meet the objectives. Changes are easy to make and are encouraged.

Why do companies work in an agile workplace?

The general pressure on companies to perform and reduce costs has increased since the pandemic and due to Trump's tariffs, meaning that working methods and premises are constantly being reviewed.

In order to remain competitive or even a pioneer, the workplace must offer employees the best possible conditions for their performance. The agile workplace is one answer to this, and activity-based working is often the model of choice.

Example of activity-based working in the agile workplace
The Dutch insurance company Interpolis has completely redesigned its offices based on activity-based working. Since then, there are no longer any fixed desks, but rather different areas for different activities: individual workstations for concentrated work in quiet zones, open spaces for workshops, and retreat areas. The result: 45% less office space and 24% lower annual occupancy costs.

Studies show that open-plan offices tend to slow down communication between employees. In some cases, direct communication fell by almost 70 percent because employees resorted to emails or chat.

An agile workplace, on the other hand, focuses on diversity of zones: places for retreat, places for exchange, places for short ad hoc meetings. Only this combination prevents the agile concept from falling by the wayside in everyday working life.

Companies are turning to the agile workplace because it makes office space usable for new and better work areas. These new areas help employees cope with the sometimes high pressure to perform and enable them to adapt their working methods to the task at hand on a daily basis.

How is an agile workspace designed?

An agile workspace is a modular system consisting of different zones and rooms that are used depending on the task at hand. At its core is the idea of activity-based working: the location is determined by the task at hand on a daily basis. This can change several times a day within the office.

  • Quiet places for concentrated work: Individual workstations are arranged to provide peace and quiet. Acoustically effective room dividers, textile surfaces, and large plants provide visual and acoustic screening. This creates an area where undisturbed work is possible.
  • Zones for exchange and workshops: Agile methods such as stand-ups, sprints, or retrospectives require spaces that can be used quickly and easily. Rollable tables, whiteboards, and partition walls make it possible to reconfigure the room in a matter of minutes depending on the size of the group and the task at hand.
  • Meeting rooms in various sizes: Meeting rooms are available for consultations and larger project or customer meetings. These are equipped with video conferencing technology so that teams can also collaborate with colleagues working from home or in coworking spaces.
  • Social and break areas: Kitchens, lounges, and café areas are integral parts of the culture in the agile office space design. They serve as places to relax and ensure that the team does not have to leave the office, as everything they need is provided. Studies show that these areas in particular strengthen the flow of knowledge and increase the quality of time spent in the office.
  • Areas for exercise and relaxation: The agile workplace creates areas for exercise, play, and relaxation. This could be a room with a table tennis table or foosball, a small fitness zone with treadmill desks, or a relaxation room with comfortable armchairs. Such places follow a simple logic: those who exercise or consciously relax in between tasks remain focused and resilient for longer. This is intended to create a balance to the otherwise high performance requirements.

How do I implement an agile workplace?

An agile workplace is created step by step. It is important that the space, technology, and culture are developed together with the team. Here's how to implement it in practice:

1. Understand needs

The first step is to analyze current working practices. Which activities are most important in everyday life and which working environments are lacking? Employee surveys and observations help to accurately identify needs.

2. Set goals

An agile workplace is more successful when it has a clear goal. This could be more collaboration, better use of space, or increased team satisfaction. Such targets give the project a clear direction.

3. Design spaces

Based on the analysis, a concept is developed with different zones: concentrated work, collaboration, exchange, relaxation. Diversity makes the difference. It is important that each area is clearly recognizable and serves its purpose.

4. Introduce digital tools

Software is the best way to manage space utilization.The agile workplace software PULT ensures that your employees can book their workspace. This organizes the use of space in a fair and transparent manner.

5. Develop rules and culture

An agile workplace thrives on shared responsibility. It requires clear rules for the use of space and a culture that promotes trust, personal responsibility, and a focus on results. Only when the team shares this attitude can the workplace reach its full potential.

6. Continuous adaptation

Working methods change, teams evolve, and new technologies are added. That's why an agile workplace is never complete. Regular review and adaptation ensure that the concept remains alive and effective in the long term.

How do I manage space allocation in the Agile Workplace?

The Agile Workplace thrives on spatial diversity: quiet areas, open spaces for teamwork, rooms for discussion and meetings. For this environment to work, you need to allocate the available spaces and spatial resources fairly.

Desk booking in PULT is a software that allows your employees to make binding reservations for workstations, rooms, and zones. This way, everyone can get to the workplace they need for their upcoming task.

  • Workplace and room booking: Employees can easily reserve desks, zones, or meeting rooms in advance. This prevents double bookings and ensures that everyone has fair access to the space.
  • Office Insights: You can see in real time and historically how heavily individual areas are used. This allows you to continuously adjust the layout and create capacity where it is actually needed.
  • PULT Presence: In addition to booking data, PULT provides you with real attendance figures. Employees check in automatically as soon as one of their devices connects to the company Wi-Fi.

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Hybrid Work

7 advantages of hybrid working

Hybrid working is a combination of working in the office and working from home or another location. This model has become established: according to the Fraunhofer Institute, 60% of employees in Germany work hybrid.

Hybrid working: advantages for companies and employees

What are the main advantages of hybrid working?

  • Hybrid working allows for a more flexible approach to the working day.
  • Personal interaction in the office is maintained with hybrid work.
  • Employees gain more freedom to make decisions and can work with greater concentration.
  • Companies have lower costs, more motivated teams and a better position in the labour market.

What are the advantages of hybrid working for employees and companies?

1. Better work-life balance

Currently, more than 60% of employees in the UK work in a hybrid model, i.e. partly in the office and partly from home. The ability to choose where to work flexibly noticeably improves the work-life balance. This is also confirmed by a study by Hardwig and Latniak (2025), which shows that hybrid structures allow employees to organise their day in a more self-determined and stress-free manner.

2. Greater concentration thanks to suitable environments

Many employees use their home office for highly concentrated work, while interaction in the office is used specifically for meetings or creative processes. According to a recent Fraunhofer IAO study, around 80% of hybrid employees report higher productivity, partly because they can plan their tasks better in line with their environment.

3. Time and cost savings through less commuting

The hybrid model is a real advantage, especially for commuters: those who do not have to go to the office every day not only save time but also travel costs. In a survey by TravelPerk, 88% of hybrid employees surveyed stated that they were able to significantly reduce their commute.

4. Higher motivation and stronger loyalty

When employees have a say in when and where they work, their satisfaction and emotional attachment to the company increase. This development is also described by Gallup's Engagement Index (based on data from 2023, but with a trend that remains valid), which shows that self-determined work has a positive effect on long-term motivation. Staff turnover is also reduced.

5. Competitive advantage in the labour market

Companies with hybrid working models find it easier to recruit skilled workers. In the Fraunhofer survey mentioned above, over 80% of the organisations surveyed stated that mobile or hybrid working is now firmly established, usually through company agreements. These companies are thus responding directly to the expectations of many applicants.

6. Space utilisation and costs

The study by Bath (Springer, 2025) shows that 34.1% of companies operate hybrid working with clear regulations, allowing structures to be adapted on a permanent basis. When offices and their individual workstations are no longer used to full capacity, the available space can be reallocated and repurposed for the benefit of employees. Even when the company grows, it can remain in the property, as efficient use means that additional capacity can be created at virtually any time.

7. Contribution to sustainability

Hybrid models also contribute to the ecological balance: reduced commuting leads to a measurable decrease in emissions. According to a study by the RKW Competence Centre, the switch to partial home office working is a relevant lever in the climate strategy of many companies, especially those with a high proportion of office workplaces.

How can hybrid working be successfully implemented?

To ensure the success of your hybrid working model, create clear guidelines that your employees can follow and that you can present to applicants. Ensure a high level of reliability in technology and software, and work on building trust and personal responsibility within your team.

Agree on binding rules with your team

Clearly define whether and on which days work will be done in the office, which tasks can be done remotely, and how personal availability is regulated. Document these agreements so that everyone in the team can read them at any time.

Tip: Develop a short, understandable team agreement with fixed guidelines for hybrid working. This will also benefit you when applicants ask about working conditions and when training new colleagues.

Plan days in the office with a specific purpose

Use office hours for activities that offer real added value through personal interaction, such as strategy workshops, retrospectives or project launches. Plan them in advance together with the team and make sure they are binding. However, avoid requiring days in the office for no reason or for vague reasons.

Tip: Introduce fixed team days that focus on coordination, planning and social interaction. Keep these days free of unnecessary remote meetings. Make the most of the time together and show your team that face-to-face meetings have intrinsic value.

Standardised technical equipment

Ensure that all employees, whether in the office or at home, can work with equivalent equipment. This includes stable internet connections, good audio quality and cloud software that can be used from anywhere.

Tip: Work with IT to develop a standard setup for hybrid workplaces and provide a fixed technology budget for home offices.

Define clear communication rules

Determine which tools are used for which type of communication, how information should be documented, and in which cases synchronous or asynchronous communication is appropriate. Agree on these rules with your team and review them regularly.

Tip: Put the standards you have developed in writing, for example for chat, email, meetings and project documentation. This will create a binding structure that works regardless of the place of work.

Foster team culture through fixed rituals

Create formats for exchange, joint reflection and cohesion for hybrid teamwork. These rituals give your team structure and a temporal rhythm.

Tip: Establish fixed formats such as monthly meetings, joint planning meetings or feedback sessions. Give these formats a fixed place in the calendar and associate them with positive experiences, such as a meal together.

Continuous improvement of the model

Regularly evaluate how well hybrid working is functioning in your team, both technically and culturally. Determine satisfaction, office utilisation and productivity, and use this information to make specific adjustments.

Tip: Conduct a compact team survey once a quarter. Evaluate the results and work with the team to derive possible changes. In this way, the system will improve evolutionarily.

Tip: PULT's Office Insights feature includes a personal feedback function. This allows you to conduct surveys within your team without any additional software and find out directly what is going on with your employees.

How does hybrid working compare to office-only or remote-only models?

In the discussion about the right way to work, there are three models: full presence in the office, purely remote working and hybrid working. Each of these models has advantages and disadvantages depending on the industry, task and team structure.

Working full-time in the office

Strengths

  • Direct communication and coordination
  • Clearly structured working day and location

Weaknesses

  • Time lost commuting
  • Less freedom to organise your time
  • Hardly any opportunities to retreat

Particularly suitable for

  • Tasks requiring a high degree of coordination
  • Intensive teamwork on site
  • Sensitive data (e.g., finance, research & development in laboratories)

Working completely remotely

Strengths

  • Location independence
  • High degree of time sovereignty
  • Access to supra-regional talent

Weaknesses

  • Less social connection
  • Risk of isolation
  • No access to local resources

Particularly suitable for

  • Individual knowledge work
  • Software development
  • International project teams
  • Activities with clear output

Hybrid working

Strengths

  • Freely combinable
  • Good balance between concentration and exchange
  • Adaptable to tasks

Weaknesses

  • Coordination effort
  • Need for clear rules
  • Potentially unequal visibility within the team

Particularly suitable for roles with changing requirements

  • Consulting
  • Marketing
  • Project management
  • Managers
  • HR

How can the disadvantages of hybrid working be overcome?

Hybrid working offers a lot of freedom, but it also presents teams and companies with new challenges. These mainly concern communication, the organisation of collaboration and the creation of the necessary structures.

Frequently cited disadvantages of hybrid working include:

  • Fewer face-to-face encounters within the team: If part of the team regularly works from home, this can undermine the sense of community. Informal conversations then take place much less frequently. You can counteract these disadvantages with face-to-face formats, such as regular team days or project-related face-to-face phases.
  • Coordination effort: Hybrid working requires clear agreements: Who is available when? Which channels are used for what? What needs to be documented? Are there core working hours? Create binding communication standards, calendars and shared software for this purpose.
  • Blurring the lines between work and leisure: When the workplace is also at home, the boundaries can sometimes become blurred. Employees report feeling that they are or must be "always available." This can be resolved by setting fixed offline times, clearly communicating availability rules, and fostering a corporate culture that encourages conscious breaks.
  • Exploring office capacity: Removing desks creates space, but capacity must still be sufficient for peak times. Finding a balance requires forward planning and accurate analysis of utilisation.

Tip: In PULT, you can measure the utilisation of your office, even without active desk sharing. An employee's presence is recorded as soon as one of their devices connects to the company Wi-Fi. Your team does not have to actively dial in – you will still receive the attendance figures. Find out more about PULT Presence here.

Finding balance for hybrid working

Hybrid working is a standalone working model with clear advantages. Employees gain a great deal of flexibility in terms of time management and personal responsibility, while companies become more attractive to applicants and are both more productive and more resilient.

The basis for hybrid working is that you actively shape the concept. Ensure that you have the right framework conditions, acceptable rules and a model that is constantly evolving within your company.

Frequent hurdles lie in coordination:

  • Who is in the office and when?
  • Which workstations are actually available?
  • Are there enough desks available during peak times?
  • When is a meeting room free?
  • Who is allowed to book which rooms?

With the PULT desk booking software, you can bridge the gap between home office and office. Your employees can book their office workspace from home, ensuring that it is available when they arrive. Meeting rooms, designated zones and parking spaces can also be booked.

By integrating PULT with Outlook, Google Calendar and many other tools, space bookings are also created as calendar entries. This provides an even better overview of which colleagues will be in the office.

Tip: Find out more about office evaluation in PULT here and desk booking here.

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Advantages of hybrid working – Frequently asked questions and answers