Remote work remains highly desirable among Czech employees

A recent study has found that workers in the Czech Republic continue to find remote working, or “home office,” particularly important in their roles. Employers, however, may not be willing to grant as many work-from-home days as employees like.

Recruitment company Devire interviewed employees and employers at business services firms in Prague, asking questions – among other things – about flexibility.  

Out of all surveyed workers, the vast majority (36 percent) said that they would ideally like to work remotely three out of five days per week. The second-most popular choice was four days of remote work per week, with over one in five employees opting for this high level of flexibility. Perhaps surprisingly, just 16 percent wanted to have home office five days per week.

Manager at Devire Petra Horáková says that, although the trend of total home office has lessened in the past year, flexibility remains a strong priority for employees and candidates.

Employers seem less willing than their employees on the remote-work concept. Just 18 percent of Czech-based offices said they would grant working from home three days per week. Only 5 percent would be willing to grant fully remote work.

The post-Covid-19 trend of remote work is in no danger of disappearing, though – two-thirds of companies said they would let employees work from home once or twice per week. 

Changes to the Labor Code earlier this year could make remote work more common in Czechia as the country aims to fully adhere to the EU’s Work-life Balance Directive. From January, companies are now legally obliged to offer work-from-home options for designated groups of people, such as pregnant women and parents with children under the age of 15. 

Companies must now also reimburse, via a flat-rate contribution, employees who work from home. This amounts to just under CZK 3 per hour to cover costs for utilities. Although this aims to help employees, this paradoxically may make firms less likely to allow working from outside the office.

Remote work in Czechia, although not as common as directly after Covid-19, is widely appreciated and sought-after; an aspect that is here to stay. Employees appear keener on a larger amount of remote-work days compared to companies, but Devire’s study shows that many employers are willing to grant their workers’ wishes – at least partially.