The home office - a surprisingly valuable achievement

During the coronavirus pandemic, working from home was still a miracle of the working world. The ability to work from home proved to be an efficient solution for many. And although many companies are now returning to the old office routine, one Spanish energy company is now showing just how expensive this return can really be.

From crisis to solution - or not?

Holaluz, a Spanish company in the energy sector, faced a financial crisis in 2024 and had to make drastic savings. The solution, according to the company's management: away with the home office, back to the office. But what was intended as a cost-cutting measure now has serious consequences. A full 25 percent of the workforce resigned after the company made the decision to abolish all teleworking.

Why the big outcry? One reason is the lack of communication between company managers and their employees. The decision to abolish the home office was taken without any real consultation with the employees. The works council and trade unions saw this as a serious mistake and sent out a strong signal with an indefinite strike. The wave of redundancies and the strikes are the unintended consequence of this unilateral approach.

The price of returning to the office

But why do so many employees refuse to return to the office? The answer is simple: working from home offers flexibility that many no longer want to do without. Whether it's commuting costs, time savings or the comfort of working in familiar surroundings - the benefits of working from home are not just a luxury for many employees, but a necessity. And the idea of giving this up for an office with fixed working hours and long commutes is simply unattractive.

What now? The conflict over the future of work

The situation is now extremely precarious for Holaluz. The company is under pressure to find a solution that takes into account both the needs of the employees and the economic interests of the company. A dialog seems unavoidable. But the question remains: Can the conflict still be resolved, or will it be a long-term burden on the company?

The price of ignorance: Why companies should not make decisions without dialog

It is striking how the company's unilateral decision calls the entire organization into question. Such a step should not have been taken without a genuine dialog with the employees affected. Companies need to understand that the world of work today is not the same as it was ten years ago. The flexibility made possible by working from home is not a short-term trend, but a long-term necessity. Employers who disregard the needs of their employees risk not only dismissals and strikes, but also a loss of trust and productivity in the long term.

Holaluz has missed a lesson here - and that could prove costly.