Difference between home office and mobile working: Everything you need to know!

Flexible working models, such as flexitime, hybrid working or desk sharing, have long been established in today's working world. In particular, home office and mobile working are often used synonymously, although they differ in important ways. While both models enable employees to perform their professional tasks outside of the traditional office, they come with different requirements, advantages and challenges. This article explains what the two terms mean, how they differ and what advantages and disadvantages they have.

What is meant by home office and mobile working?

Both working methods make it possible to carry out professional activities outside of the traditional office. In the case of the home office, the employee works from a permanently set-up workplace in their own four walls. In this case, the employer often takes responsibility for equipment such as a desk, ergonomic chair or technical devices to ensure safe and productive work. Mobile working, on the other hand, offers significantly more freedom: The workplace is flexible and can be almost anywhere – be it in a café, in a co-working space or while traveling. In contrast to the home office, there are fewer fixed guidelines for mobile working, which increases the personal responsibility of the employees. Both models also require modern technologies and have become increasingly important in recent years, particularly due to digitalization and the desire for a better work-life balance.

A direct comparison of home office and mobile working

The differences between working from home and mobile working clearly show that both models are tailored to different needs. Here is a detailed overview of the two working methods in comparison:

1. Place of work
2. Working from home: The workplace is tied to a fixed location within your own four walls.
3. Mobile working: The place of work is flexible and can be chosen at will.
4. Regulations
5. Working from home: Stricter legal requirements apply here, with the employer bearing more responsibility.
   

Mobile working: There are no specific regulations for workplace design when it comes to mobile working. Consequently, employees have more personal responsibility in this regard.

1. Technology
2. Home office: A stable internet connection, a computer or laptop and additional hardware such as a monitor and printer are the standard equipment that is also provided.
3. Mobile working: Mobile technologies such as laptops, tablets, smartphones and VPN access are required, as is access to secure public networks.
4. Flexibility
5. Home office: Home office offers a clear structure and routine because the workplace is fixed. This can help to better separate work and leisure time.
6. Mobile working: Mobile working allows maximum freedom in the choice of working hours and location, but it is often less plannable and requires a high degree of self-organization.
7. Data security
8. Home office: The data remains within the private home network, which minimizes the risk of security breaches, although encrypted connections are often used as well.
9. Mobile working: There is a higher risk when using public Wi-Fi networks or working in places with little data protection and privacy, which requires additional security measures.
10. Suitable activities
11. Home office: This working model is suitable for activities that require a high level of concentration, stable connections and a constant working environment, such as accounting, software development or customer service.
12. Mobile working: This is particularly recommended for employees in field service, sales, project management or creative professions who benefit from changing environments and inspiration.

In conclusion, it is clear that both models have their specific advantages and challenges, which is why the choice of model should always be based on the individual requirements of the job and the personal way of working.

An overview of the advantages and challenges of both ways of working

The choice between working from home and mobile working brings both advantages and challenges. Therefore, to find the right working model for you, here is a summary of all the advantages and possible hurdles.

Advantages of working from home

Working from home offers numerous advantages for employees and employers, especially for jobs that require a high level of concentration and few distractions.

• Structured daily routine: A fixed workplace at home enables clear routines and helps to increase productivity. Employees can work undisturbed, without distractions from colleagues or background noise.
  
• Eliminating commuting time: Time that would be spent commuting can be used for work, leisure or relaxation. This not only saves time, but also costs for petrol, tickets or parking fees.
• Protecting sensitive data: Company data is transferred securely within the home network, reducing the risk of data leaks. Special security measures such as VPN access further enhance protection.

In summary, the home office combines efficiency, comfort and security and is particularly attractive for people who value a clear separation of work and leisure time and a stable work environment.

Advantages of mobile working

The mobile working method is particularly appealing to people with a dynamic lifestyle or unconventional work requirements, as it allows employees to organize their work flexibly and integrate personal preferences into their professional lives.

• Maximum flexibility: Work and travel can be seamlessly combined. For professions such as field service or project management, where changes of location are often necessary, this freedom is a great advantage.
• Increased motivation and productivity: Creative work environments such as co-working spaces or public places promote inspiration and breaking routines.
• Digital nomads: This model is the perfect solution for frequent travelers and professions without a fixed workplace. It also allows companies to integrate talent from around the world, regardless of location.

In summary, mobile working represents a model that combines flexibility, independence and creativity. It offers an attractive contrast to rigid office structures and is ideal for those who value freedom and variety in their working methods.

Challenges of both models

However, in addition to the many advantages, home office and mobile working also present some challenges:

• Technical problems such as unstable internet connections or software failures can disrupt the workflow. This risk is greater for mobile workers in particular, who often use public networks.
• Another difficulty is the separation of work and private life. In a home office, the boundaries between work and leisure often become blurred, which can lead to overload. Mobile working also carries the risk of being constantly available. Therefore, clear routines and agreements are crucial here.
  
• In addition, collaboration in distributed teams requires structured communication to avoid misunderstandings. Regular virtual meetings and suitable tools such as Slack or Microsoft Teams can support this.

With discipline and the right conditions, however, both employees and employers can overcome these challenges and reap the benefits in the long term!

Legal regulations and employer responsibility

In Germany, home office and mobile working are subject to different legal requirements designed to ensure the protection of employees.

Home office

Employers are obliged to equip the workplace ergonomically. This includes desks, chairs and technical equipment in accordance with the Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV). Statutory accident insurance also covers activities in the home office as long as they are directly related to work. However, accidents on the way to the kitchen, for example, are often not included.

Mobile working

With mobile working, the employee bears more personal responsibility for their workplace. However, the employer must ensure basic requirements such as data protection, for example through VPN connections or encrypted data transfers. Compliance with the Working Hours Act (ArbZG) also remains a challenge, which is why clear agreements on recording working hours are necessary.

In both models, it is the employer's responsibility to ensure compliance with the legal framework and to protect the health of their employees.

3 tips for successful implementation

To make home office and mobile working efficient, clear rules and good organization are essential. Both employers and employees benefit when the framework conditions are defined in a transparent and structured way. However, the following three tips will help you to overcome the challenges of these working models:

1. Clear agreements: One of the most important foundations is a clear agreement between employer and employee. The terms and conditions regarding working hours, availability and the use of work equipment should be set out in writing. Additional rules are useful for mobile working, for example on data protection and data security, especially when public networks are used.
   
2. The right tools: Efficient communication and collaboration are essential. Software solutions such as Microsoft Teams, Slack or Zoom facilitate the exchange of information within the team and enable the structured organization of projects. Task management tools such as Asana or Trello can also help you keep track of things and meet deadlines.
   
3. Self-management: For employees, self-discipline is crucial to staying productive. A clear daily structure, fixed working hours and regular breaks help you to concentrate and avoid overwork. A well-equipped workplace, whether at home or on the road, also helps you to stay focused. In addition, techniques such as the Pomodoro method or a fixed end-of-day ritual can help you to better separate work and leisure.

These measures create the basis for a productive and balanced way of working that meets both professional and personal needs.

Home office and mobile working – two models for different needs

Flexible working models such as home office and mobile working open up new possibilities for designing your daily work routine to suit your individual needs. While one model offers structure and stability, the other offers maximum freedom and location independence. The appropriate model can be selected depending on the industry, activity and personal work style. However, clear agreements and suitable framework conditions are crucial to overcome challenges and fully exploit the advantages. With the right organization, however, both models can be efficiently integrated into the modern working day.