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Grant Davies
Member - 2 posts
I've had several requests recently about working from home by secretarial staff who currenlty work part time. They want to expand their working day, but do it at home rather than in the office, as it fits in with thier home life balance. Does anyone know if we can just reject these requests, as they do not fit in with the culture of the current work environment, and will also entail more checking and managing to ensure we comply with H&S and are also able to manage the workload?
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kieran dowling
Member - 2 posts
"Not fitting in with the culture of the work environment" !!!!
I suppose if you had your way, you would also have dismissed women on getting married. That's what used to happen in the dark ages because that also did not fit in with the culture of the work environment!
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Richard Thompson
Member - 6 posts
Hi Grant
You have to be careful if are an equal opprtunities employer, and other members of staff have worked form home. In cases where employees work form home exactly the same laws apply at home as they do in work, during the contracted hours. i.e Risk Assessments is the equipment adequate for carrying out the dempolyees duties i.e DSE, the company also has the insurance factors to consider.
It's not just a case of working form home means I can get up later, or I can go shopping during the contracted hours as this may well constitute a breach of contract if caught. I hope you can sort something out. Regards
Richard
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James Fairchild
Member - 226 posts
Grant,
If these men/women are parents (inc adoptive) then you have a duty to give their requests (to work flexibly) due consideration.
As someone who works from home theirself on occasions, I can tell you that many employees really do value this flexibility, and the implied trust that goes with it, and it really does help with staff motivation or retention.
So what if it enables someone to wake up earlier or go shopping during their break - as long as they are working well and are content workers, what is the issue?
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Phil Lemon
Member - 49 posts
Several things to consider
Work-Life ballance Flexible working and the rights of the worker
Carbon Footprint of the business - can you reduce you carbon use by having people work from home, less fuel used to get to-from place of work, or reducing youroffice space?
Establishing a workspace at home may mean that you need to provide equipment and furniture, some of which may have to be written-off as it may not be suitable for the next person or worth collecting de[pending on the location of the worker
Testing of equipment in the workers home
Psycological aspects - Lone working, competency, work ethic and supervision, dissassociation from the company and other workforce.
Contracts of work
And lastly (and importantly)- Risk Assessment, Risk Assessment, Risk Assessment. Documentation and the Health and Safety of your workers
wherever and whenever they work
I believe that Workplace Law has produced a booklet on Homeworking which may help
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sheena farenden
Member - 53 posts
I am confused when you say secretarial staff what exactly do you mean as I thought this meant the person who was available when the person who they are secretary for needed them and answered/fielded calls and booked appointments etc. Surely if this is the case you are talking about a business need to be present at the office location.
If however you are talking about Audio/Copy typist with no direct contact with the customers etc I suppose taking into account H & S you could consider this.
However my understanding was you had to consider flexible working if parent/carer not working from home.
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