By Emma Matlock
•
03 Sep, 2020
When the COVID-19 lockdown was first imposed, and businesses were shut up and staff asked to work from home, many supposed this would be a relatively short-term move. Now the full impact of the Coronavirus pandemic is becoming apparent, many businesses are asking some or all of their staff to remain as temporary homeworkers, even though their doors are once again open. How long ‘temporary’ becomes is as yet uncertain, but a number of businesses have said they aren’t anticipating welcoming all their staff back until at least January 2021. Under health and safety regulations, if an employees’ contracted placed of work is home, then the employer has certain obligations to meet. With these current working arrangements, although temporary, the Health and Safety Executive is recognising that employers still have a responsibility to their staff, while they are home-based. Employers have a duty of care around their health and safety, and physical and mental welfare. Indeed, if being a temporary homeworker is negatively impacting on an employees’ physical or mental health, then where possible the employer is encouraged to allow them to work from the office, perhaps in a hybrid arrangement of some days at home and some days at the place of work. Employees themselves can rightly be expected to put what measures they can in place to create a suitable working environment, to remain productive and - as far as they can - segregate their home and working life. At GH Safety, we are working closely with our clients to ensure they meet their obligations around temporary homeworkers. If you are an employer and have yet to put measures in place (because, as we said, most of us assumed this would be short-term) it is not too late to do so. As businesses move out of survival mode, into new ways of working, it is still possible (and necessary) to put the health and safety, and mental welfare of employees at the heart. Here is some of the guidance we have given to our clients, and we also have a homeworkers’ checklist which you can download , which gives information on temporary homeworking. Ten tips for employers on supporting temporary homeworkers: Acknowledge that your employees’ home is still their home. Encourage staff to plan their day, just as they would in the office – but, this time, without the commute! Make sure staff know they are allowed to take regular breaks, just as they would in the office. Indeed encourage them to do so, as there is evidence that workers taking regular breaks are more productive. Given them guidance on where to work and how to select the best place in their home. For example, they should choose a well ventilated room and avoid sitting right in front of a window, which may cause glare. Give them advice on where to site their monitor, mouse etc, so that they are placed for best comfort. You could offer a display screen assessment. Ensure they know about the need for adequate support for the lower lumbar region, and sitting upright rather than slouching. Therefore, they should sit at a table and not on a bed or sofa. Issue advice on trip hazards, such as trailing leads. Know where your employees are. If they do need to meet a customer or a supplier, for example, this should never be at their home. Ensure they choose a public place, such as a coffee shop. Keep in touch with staff. Zoom, Skype, Teams and other video conferencing software have brought great benefits, but face-to-face meetings are now allowed, so try to incorporate these back into the working day, of course observing rules on social distancing and wearing face coverings. Address any issues and be sympathetic. Always remember, this is a new way of working for many employees. Holding regular 121s to talk through any problems will help maintain employee engagement. Be aware of your staffs’ mental health and wellbeing, and signpost employees to any support mechanisms you have in place in your organisation. If you would like to talk to the GH Safety team about health and safety, or mental health first aid training , in relation to temporary homeworking, please get in touch . We work with companies and organisations throughout the South, South West and M4 corridor, offering health and safety support and training .