When we started working from home, I was worried that work and home life might blend into one. That people might not be able to switch off. So, we came up with a set of rules regarding communication: no e-mails outside working hours and nobody had to remain available for contact in the evenings. To do this, we defined a time frame of six hours in the day when everyone had to be reachable.

Our events are important highlights in the calendar at TGS Architekten. As well as the three-day team event in winter, we also organise group activities in summer and autumn. These occasions give us the chance to get to know each other better and build trust. This trust provides a basis for finding constructive solutions together in difficult situations.

I find physical activity to be a good way of dealing with stress at work. Our employees can take advantage of subsidised fitness activities if they wish. We also have our own jogging group; it’s easier to go out running together. So, we try to encourage people to take up sport and thereby prevent stress.

We aim to design and use our workplace in a way that allows for a good work-life balance. For example, we have provided a roof terrace and employees have organised yoga classes, which are open to all colleagues. We’ve set up the meeting rooms with movable partition walls and a bar so that, in the blink of an eye, they can be transformed into somewhere for us to enjoy a drink together.