Remote work trends remain stable despite increased office presence requirements

While some major companies like Mercedes-Benz, SAP, and Volkswagen have tightened presence requirements, the trend toward remote work remains stable rather than declining. In Germany, data from the Federal Statistical Office shows that approximately 25% of employees worked from home occasionally in 2025, up from 13% in 2019.

For engineers, the ability to work remotely often depends on the specific nature of their tasks, such as whether they are involved in manufacturing, laboratory work, or construction sites. Effective remote work requires deliberate structures to replace spontaneous office interactions, focusing on communication tools that reduce friction rather than simply increasing the number of software applications used.