Mobile Work

Mobile working describes the performance of work outside the workplace using (mobile) information and communication technologies.

An employee is working from home sitting at a table in front of his laptop taking a note.
© iStock | kupicoo

Employees can either determine the places where they carry out their information-related activities themselves or they are specified by the employer. Mobile working also includes occasional working from home. Unlike telework, however, mobile working is often not contractually agreed. In contrast to teleworking ("Telearbeitsplatz"), mobile working is not subject to the Workplace Ordinance (cf. § 2 para. 7 ArbStättV), but is based on an agreement with the employer for a specific occasion. Mobile working must also be distinguished from working at mobile workplaces, e.g. in passenger or goods transport, as well as from working at changing locations without information-related activities, such as mobile care workers or workers in the skilled trades.

Recommendations for health-promoting design

In the following, three topics "digital work tools", "work locations" and "work organisation" are explained and design recommendations are given. It should be noted that the individual aspects are in part strongly interrelated and also mutually dependent. In addition, the design options differ within the respective areas. It is not possible to influence the design of the workplace and the working environment at all workplaces. Accordingly, no recommendations can be made here and working at these places should be limited in time.

Further Information

Research projects

Project numberF 2555 StatusOngoing Project Hybrid, location-flexible, multi-local working? Science in dialogue

To the Project

Research ongoing

Project numberF 2519 StatusCompleted Project Working from home and mobile working: Ensuring safety and health holistically

To the Project

Research completed

Project numberF 2455 StatusOngoing Project Cognitive Ergonomics of using ICT for Mobile Knowledge Work in public transportation

To the Project

Research ongoing

Project numberF 2454 StatusCompleted Project Health-promoting interventions for workers and teams with location- and time-flexible work designs

To the Project

Research completed

Publications

Hybrides, Ortsflexibles, Multilokales Arbeiten? Wissenschaft im Dialog I

Publishing year: 2023

Suchergebnis_Format baua: Fokus

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Hybrides, Ortsflexibles, Multilokales Arbeiten? Wissenschaft im Dialog II

Publishing year: 2024

Suchergebnis_Format baua: Fokus

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Flexible working - Making use of freedoms, avoiding overload

Publishing year: 2020

Suchergebnis_Format baua: Guidance (in German)

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Telearbeit, Homeoffice und Mobiles Arbeiten: Chancen, Heraus­forderungen und Gestaltung­saspekte aus Sicht des Arbeits­schutzes

Publishing year: 2021

Suchergebnis_Format baua: Fokus

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Working Time Report Germany - Working from Home

Publishing year: 2023

Suchergebnis_Format baua: Report brief

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BAuA Working Time Survey: Commuting, Telework, Business Trips, Changing and Mobile Work Places

Publishing year: 2020

Suchergebnis_Format Report (in German)

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Arbeiten von zu Hause und überall? Herausforderungen zeit- und ortsflexibler Arbeit aus Sicht des Arbeitsschutzes

Publishing year: 2021

Suchergebnis_Format Article

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Health-related potentials and risks of flexible working time and place - current state of research

Publishing year: 2018

Suchergebnis_Format baua: Report (in German)

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Psychische Gesundheit in der Arbeitswelt - Mobilität

Publishing year: 2016

Suchergebnis_Format baua: Report

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