By Dee Woodcock
Since the onset of the pandemic, the number of people working from home has exploded. Employers, once resistant, have had to embrace the practice and actively shift a substantial amount of their work force from the office to home.
But, are employers effectively able to manage the new norm and be legally compliant?
• Are there contractual provisions/policies that fully cover employees working from home?
• Is confidential information and personal data still sufficiently protected?
• How will work be managed and supervised?
• Have health and safety risk assessments been undertaken?
• Has any special equipment required been provided?
• Are any special planning or insurance arrangements covered?
• Have tax consequences been addressed?
Employers need to ensure they have the position covered and they can effectively direct and manage their workforce remotely and should ensure they have clear policies/procedures on home working in place:
• retaining the ability to require employees to come into the office or work there, if necessary
• defining claimable home working expenses
• ensuring comparable home working pay and benefits to any office based employees
• providing appropriate work equipment, whilst retaining access and control to it
• maintaining IT/confidential information/data security
• addressing reporting, appraisals, training and promotion.
At Sampson Coward we can assist with reviewing your existing contracts, policies and procedures as well as advise you on appropriate documentation to ensure you have what is needed.
Contact Dee or David at Sampson Coward Solicitors on 01722 820934 and 01722 820935, or by email at dee.woodcock@sampsoncoward.co.uk or
david.coward@sampsoncoward.co.uk
