How to stay healthy when working from home

Some employees would have liked to work remotely even before the corona pandemic hit. The pandemic forced many employees to switch to remote work from one day to the next. Their experience shows the benefits and pitfalls of working from home.

The Institute of Work and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) provides a comprehensive checklist for remote work. This helps verify quickly what factors play a decisive role in shaping a safe and healthy workplace. The list provides valuable design tips and recommendations for your workplace and work environment, e.g.,:

• How should I plan breaks?
• What is the ideal lighting arrangement?
• What do I need to consider when communicating with colleagues and superiors remotely?
• How flexibly can I organize my working hours?
• How can I create a healthy indoor climate?

You can download an abridged and an extended version of the checklist.

Universität Hamburg also provides ample internal support. On 16 September 2021, the Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection Unit is offering a German-language training course online in ergonomics for computer work stations. HR Development regularly announces various other courses to help you develop skills for switching off after work or be more organized in your home office. You can also discuss your personal working situation and the particular challenges and opportunities for improvement in an individual consultation or coaching session with our counseling service.