Remote work urged as fuel prices surge across Europe

How Much Fuel Home Office Could Save

EU and German unions push remote work to combat soaring fuel costs

Soaring fuel prices are hitting millions of commuters hard. The EU Commission, among others, is proposing more remote work to ease the burden. Researchers say that just one extra day of working from home could save millions of liters of commuter fuel—though for now, the idea remains theoretical.

The conflict in the Middle East is driving up energy prices. Since oil tankers have been stranded in the critical Strait of Hormuz, the price of Brent crude has temporarily surged past the $100-per-barrel mark. The spike is being felt at gas stations, where drivers are paying steep prices for gasoline and diesel.

Nearly ten million Germans commute to the office by car, the vast majority in combustion-engine vehicles. To cut fuel costs, one in five now works from home more often, according to a team led by organizational researcher Florian Kunze of the University of Konstanz. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have conducted the representative "Konstanz Home Office Study" as a long-term project.

In their 19th survey, they asked nearly 1,000 office workers how rising fuel prices were affecting their commutes. Almost two-thirds of respondents with office jobs said it made sense to work from home due to high fuel costs—among car commuters, the figure rose to 72%. On average, those surveyed work from home 1.9 days a week but would prefer 2.8 days.

If all nine million office commuters with gasoline or diesel cars worked from home just one extra day per week, it could save around 32 million liters of fuel. The researchers calculated this figure using their own data, along with statistics from Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority, Federal Environment Agency, and the German Economic Institute.

One Day of Home Office Could Save 32 Million Liters of Fuel—Here's the Math

The University of Konstanz team based their estimate on Germany's 14.8 million office workers, as recorded by the German Economic Institute in 2020. According to the "Konstanz Home Office Study," 64% of them commute by car—about 9.47 million people. Subtracting the 4% of electric vehicles registered (per the Federal Motor Transport Authority), 9.09 million commuters remain with combustion-engine cars. Data shows these drivers cover an average of 47.6 kilometers per office day—round trip. With an average fuel consumption of 7.4 liters per 100 kilometers, that amounts to 3.52 liters of fuel per person per workday. The total savings come from a simple calculation: 9.09 million commuters multiplied by 3.52 liters equals roughly 32 million liters saved per additional home office day.

Yet this figure is purely theoretical. Most employees who support remote work in principle still prefer going to the office—whether due to a lack of clear rules for hybrid work or a desire to remain "visible."

EU Commission Proposes a Mandatory Home Office Day

At least 25% of Germans occasionally work from home, according to Germany's Federal Statistical Office. That number could grow. Media reports suggest the EU Commission is planning a fixed home office day for employees in response to the oil crisis. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is also calling for action, proposing ten measures that governments, households, and businesses can "implement quickly." Topping the list: remote work. Road transport, the IEA notes, accounts for 45% of global oil demand.

The German government is taking a different approach. It plans a voluntary relief bonus, allowing employers to pay employees up to €1,000 tax- and contribution-free. It also aims to reduce energy taxes on gasoline and diesel. A legal right to work from home, however, is off the table. "Decisions on additional home office arrangements are solely the responsibility of the contracting parties, works councils, and collective bargaining partners," the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs told Business Insider (BI) in a statement.

Meanwhile, the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) is pushing for more remote work options from employers. "Every liter of fuel saved helps—employers must do their part," DGB board member Stefan Körzell told newspapers in the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland group. He urged companies to "give employees the choice of working in the office or from home. This can reduce commuting distances and ease the strain on wallets."

Berlin-Brandenburg Business Associations Reject Government Mandates—But Open to More Remote Work

The Berlin-Brandenburg business associations oppose state-imposed regulations on remote work. However, expanded options could be on the table, a spokesperson told Business Insider in response to an inquiry: "If it makes operational sense and can be properly structured, broader home office arrangements are certainly a viable option." They added: "In most cases, the costs would likely be far lower than those of the relief bonus proposed by the federal government in recent discussions."

Remote Work Favors Higher Earners

Remote work could provide tangible relief for employees, says Bettina Kohlrausch, director of the Economic and Social Science Institute (WSI) of the Hans Böckler Foundation and a researcher on the topic. "The pandemic trained us—we have the infrastructure in place," she explains in an interview with BI. "Where employees want to work remotely and can do so under good conditions with clear rules, it benefits everyone involved." Kohlrausch, a sociologist, considers a legal right to remote work a sensible step, "because it offers many advantages and aligns with the wishes of numerous employees."

While remote work can offer targeted support during crises, many people still prefer working on-site. Statistical data also shows that higher-qualified or better-paid employees stand to benefit most from such a right, as they are more likely to have jobs that can be done from home. "Care workers, for example, need their cars to visit patients," she points out. "They earn less, bear the brunt of rising fuel costs, and simply can't switch to remote work."

Employers present a mixed picture. While all DAX-listed corporations offer remote work options, many are now setting stricter limits. Take SAP and Siemens: since the pandemic, both have increasingly called employees back to the office. At the same time, they provide mobility benefits to offset fuel costs—SAP with gas vouchers, Siemens with bike-leasing programs.

For now, the idea that nine million Germans will voluntarily leave their cars parked one extra day a week remains unlikely.