Short Answer
You have zero legal right to work from home unless a specific remote quota is written directly into your employment contract.
Verbal promises about flexible workplace options made during interviews hold no weight under German law.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You moved to a cheaper suburb an hour away from the city because the hiring manager verbally promised you a "fully flexible remote culture." Two months later, a new department head canceled all informal remote arrangements and demanded your physical presence in the office five days a week. You were forced to pay €350 per month for a long-distance train ticket and lost two hours of unpaid personal time to commuting every single day.
What To Do
- Print your draft contract and search for the specific term "Zusatzvereinbarung Homeoffice" before signing anything.
- Ask your HR representative to explicitly state the exact number of permitted remote days per week in writing.
- "Können wir die Homeoffice-Regelung vertraglich festhalten?" (Can we record the home office regulation in the contract?) — email this request to your recruiter to secure the benefit.
The Truth
While remote work is common now, many German bosses still value "Präsenzkultur" (presence culture). They don't fully trust that work is happening unless they can see you in your chair.