Working from home has proven to be popular for some. With modern technology and the desire for
flexible working conditions, it has been increasingly more common for employers to allow employees to work from home on occasion.
Employers need to remember their obligations to staff remain the same, even while working remotely. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (Act) an employer has a duty to ensure the employee’s safety so far as is reasonably practical.
There are certain steps that should be considered by an employer such as asking employees to complete a work station checklist at home. There should also be a working from home policy in place. That policy should include, for example, that the employee agrees to take regular breaks, to keep work related information and data secure, that the employee’s workplace is free of hazards and that employees will be expected to return to the workplace when required.
Where possible, employers must ensure that employees who have the ability to work from home have all the proper equipment to do so. At the end of the day, this will depend on each employees’ circumstances and the role that they hold. Best practice is that employers and employees work together to find a fair and reasonable solution.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and no intended as a substitute for specific
professional advice on any matter and should not be relied upon for that purpose.