in Scotland, see Scottish Government advice on working from home; in Wales, see Welsh Government advice on working from home; Deciding on working from home arrangements. To let us know how we can help, call us on 0300 123 1150, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Training Courses, Workshops and Projects. For many, the benefit comes from a better work/life balance, but other advantages include increased employee productivity and motivation as well as ‘green’ benefits. Home. This could include asking employees to carry out a self-assessment of their workspace and equipment. Key points for employers to note include: supporting employees to help them adjust to remote working and discuss how their homeworking arrangements can be improved; considering the needs of individual employees. … Anyone working from home should keep in regular contact with their manager. Pregnant workers. For many businesses, managing people remotely is a new challenge. Acas helps employees, employers and their representatives resolve problems at work through advice, training, mediation and conciliation. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has set out the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees when working from home, in response to government advice for many workers to stay away from the office. Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest advice for employers and employees. For example a radiographer working in a hospital may go home following a working day, but may be called into the hospital if required, therefore the working time will be the time spent while working at the hospital. Ref: 10/13. Visit the Acas Training Courses, Workshops and Projects area for more information. Acas has published some guidance to help employers and employees with some of the challenges of home working. In this module you will see how we can respect each other and our differences at work, and why it’s so important to do so. Free to download and use. Overview. Much work carried out at home is going to be low-risk, office-type work so any risk assessment will consider: The home working environment. One of the biggest changes resulting from the coronavirus pandemic has been the switch to working from home. Employers are responsible for the safety of their employees even if they are working from home. 2013. See you there. In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, we could see numbers soar to unprecedented levels as more people switch to temporary homeworking. Employee responsibilities. Employer responsibilities During the coronavirus pandemic, it's very unlikely that employers can carry out usual health and safety risk assessments at an employee's home. Employees have a responsibility to take reasonable care of their own health and safety at work. 3.2. This includes temporary homeworking because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and longer-term homeworking arrangements. Select the statement you most agree with: Supporting mental health in the workplace, Dealing with a problem raised by an employee, Checklist for setting up working from home, Please tell us why the information did not help, I cannot find the information I'm looking for. While working at home during the coronavirus pandemic, people might be experiencing problems such as: It’s important to remember that everyone’s experience will be different. This 3-hour digital event will give an essential overview of the law and good practice, providing you with the skills and knowledge needed to confidently manage employees working from home. Employers should check insurance also covers them against a claim by a third party. The right to request flexible working: an Acas guide. We’ve created a ready-to-run survey that does all the hard work for you. Employees have a responsibility to take reasonable care of their own health and safety at work. acas.png. https://bit.ly/2AmWWK4 See More Example checklist for employers and employees to use when setting up homeworking. ACAS Working from home guidance. Optional phrases / clauses are enclosed in square brackets. While you might not miss your daily commute, it does guarantee that you leave the house at least once during the day. Working from home You may be able to claim tax relief for additional household costs if you have to work at home on a regular basis, either for all or part of the week. In Acas, approximately 11% of staff are officially designated as homeworkers, but homeworking is used on an ad hoc basis by a much larger number of employees. "Given the current situation with millions of people now working from home, many people may be using work devices for personal use, to access emails, or the internet," he added. All Acas events on Flexible working (digital) for all regions: Click on an event for more information and to book places. Working Time Directive - ECJ judgement - September 2015. During this time, many employees will be under a lot of stress juggling caring responsibilities with work. Neurodiversity in the workplace. Employers should review risk assessments regularly to make sure employees’ working environments at home remain safe and healthy. Anyone working from home should keep in regular contact with their manager. Above all, employers and employees are encouraged to be practical, flexible and sensitive to each other’s situation. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began the government has urged people to work from home where possible. Longer-term changes to working arrangements, Preparing for homeworking during coronavirus questionnaire from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), what employers should do from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), looking out for signs of domestic abuse on GOV.UK, managing and supporting employees experiencing domestic abuse on the CIPD website, domestic abuse toolkit for employers on the Business in the Community (BITC) website, Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA), Time off because of a mental health issue, any physical or mental health and safety risks, any working arrangements that need to change, for example because of caring responsibilities, stress, anxiety, loneliness or other mental health issues, feeling unhealthy as they’re not able to take their usual exercise, finding it harder to switch off from work, feeling pressure to work while ill (‘presenteeism’), physical pain because they do not have the right working equipment, for example musculoskeletal problems caused by an unsuitable chair and desk at home, look after their mental and physical health, for example by getting support and doing regular exercise, manage their work-life balance, for example by having clear start and finish times, have the necessary equipment and information to work safely, encourage sharing of any problems they may have, not make assumptions about what support might or might not be needed, agree on what support may be needed, for example if an employee with a disability needs, support someone who is experiencing domestic abuse, keep a record of incidents at work and when employees report domestic abuse, and any actions taken, finding a way to communicate safely, for example by text message if calls are not possible, or a different email address if their email is being monitored by the perpetrator, agreeing on a code word or hand signal for someone to use to alert others that they’re experiencing domestic abuse, arranging another place they can do their work instead of at home, time off, for example to attend support appointments, helping the person get other appropriate support, a clear commitment to taking the issue seriously, the support available for employees and managers. There should be enough space for work to be carried out comfortably. Code Of Practice - Handling In A Reasonable Manner Requests To Work Flexibly. Employers and employees should be practical, flexible and sensitive to each other's situation when working from home because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Employers setting up homeworking because of the coronavirus pandemic can also use the homeworking questionnaire from CIPD. Home working and managing employees that work from home including the legal implications and resolving difficulties ... for example, by involving Acas or another mediator, or - if your procedure was incorrect, or your decision based on incorrect facts - by going to an Employment Tribunal. Send in your requests using # AskAcas in your tweet. Acas agrees to share the outcome of that evaluation with you. Employers should check insurance also covers them against a claim by a … Employers and managers should talk together with their employees and: During the pandemic, there has been an increase in domestic violence and abuse. Working from home is no longer the alien concept it once was; more and more workers across an eclectic mix of industries will have at least one day a week working from their home ‘office’. We have a range of management, employment law and HR training courses available. During the pandemic, pregnant workers have been advised to follow strict social distancing to reduce the risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Employees should check there are no issues with them working from home, with their home insurer, mortgage provider or … Homeworking - a guide for employers and employees. If the employer is not able to carry out a full risk assessment due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they should provide their employees with information on working safely at home. Home; Advice and Guidance; Tools, Templates and Resources; Training Courses, Workshops and Projects; Careers; Contact us ; About us; Acas newsletter; Using this site; Help & advice for employers and employees Advice A-Z . working from home; changing their working hours; being placed on restricted duties; working under supervision; being transferred to a different role within the organisation (the role should be of a similar status to their normal role, and with the same terms and conditions of employment). Ideally, employers should also follow Acas advice to consider more flexible homeworking arrangements such as working different hours, reducing the number of hours or days worked, reducing work targets, and being flexible about deadlines where possible. Please see the following information from ACAS. They should develop it in consultation with employees and any trade union or employee representatives. . In addition, Acas or its research contractor may approach you to carry out a further evaluation of the impact of the training at a later date. The government’s public health advice is to work from home where possible to help prevent the spread of the virus within the wider community. The right to request flexible working: an Acas guide. Feeling stressed, anxious, low or struggling to sleep? Got a question for Acas? For employers, Acas recommends that they check the details of their insurance to make sure they are covered for an employee working from home if they are using business equipment. Or can they be more flexible? Working from home Employers and employees should be practical, flexible and sensitive to each other’s situation when working from home because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. ... and how employers and employees can assess whether it is a sound option in office-related roles or arrangements where home would be used as a base for travel. Working from Home Policy 1. Latest advice on the furlough scheme's extension. One of the biggest changes resulting from the coronavirus pandemic has been the switch to working from home. The Acas top 5 topics in free online advice. There are many forms of flexible working; it can describe a place of work, or type of contract. And it’s available now. It will evaluate services following delivery based on completed evaluation forms. The ACAS guide Homeworking – a guide for all employers and employees sets out what ... working from home - for example does homeworking mean that an employee must work and be available during core business hours? As measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue, organisations are working to support their staff to work from home or otherwise work more flexibly on an ongoing basis. Only if all other options are not practical, may suspension become necessary. 10 top tips for working remotely. There are many attractions, for employers and employees alike, in having a work from home programme. An employer must have sound business reason for rejecting a request. #AskAcas on Twitter . Home is where the work is: A new study of homeworking in Acas – and beyond. By law, employers are responsible for the health and safety of all employees, including those working from home. It has also become more difficult for people to get away from the person abusing them (the ‘perpetrator’). You can find more guidance on domestic abuse from GOV.UK. Rights and responsibilities at work . ACAS should be shut down and a new up to date service provider who will do a better job. Start the fightback to a healthier you today. Our helpline advisor Chau will be online to answer your questions. We cannot respond to questions sent through this form. The Acas working from home guidance also offers support around employees’ responsibilities when working from home; how to support individuals’ mental and physical health; providing equipment and technology; pay and terms and conditions; employees’ expenses; childcare arrangements; and any issues that arise through insurance, mortgage or rent agreements. Get our Covid Working From Home Survey. We are currently recruiting advisers to work on our Helpline in our Newcastle and Nottingham offices. Homeworking - a guide for employers and employees. Employers should make clear what support is available if an employee is experiencing domestic abuse, such as: Employers should consider having a domestic abuse policy. Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest advice for employers and employees. Aims and objectives 1.1 This policy is intended to provide guidance and good practice to enable employees to work from home effectively and safely. By Adrian Wakeling on 23 Aug 2017 in Working from home, Acas, Flexible working There are hidden benefits and drawbacks to flexible working arrangements, new research from employment adviser Acas finds. 26 March 2020 #Other. Training courses for employers. Working from home? Acas. Tools, Templates and Resources. What is specifically required for each employee will depend on the job, the duration of home working and what specialist equipment may be … This comprehensive guide from Acas includes real-life case studies and advice on meeting homeworking legal requirements as well as health and safety standards. Microsoft Word format. work from home. Employers have a legal duty of care to their employees and should: See guidance on looking out for signs of domestic abuse on GOV.UK. Acas Chief Executive, Susan Clews, said: "The coronavirus outbreak is impacting all of our working lives at the moment. We can also provide remote training courses for your workplace if you need to train larger groups or teams. Find out the support available to workers and employers because of coronavirus (COVID-19). On insurance, the guidance highlights the need for employers and employees alike to consider the implications of working from home. 2: HOMEWORKING A GIDE FOR EMPLOERS AND EMPLOEES: Throughout the guide, a legal requirement is indicated by the word “must” – for example, employers must carry out … The Covid Working From Home Survey includes carefully crafted questions and one-click dynamic reporting to help you better understand your data. And for people who are in work, really a lot of the same as you do for anybody else about making it COVID-safe, so that they are less likely to be, you know, to catch this horrible virus because it's, you know, not something that we want any employees to come down with. Be more organised and offer up to date advice. Working from Home Policy 1. 1. Latest HR … Find out more about working from home during coronavirus. But as far as possible, make the working environment at home, as barrier free as you can. Please do not include any personal details, for example email address or phone number. Employers can use the Preparing for homeworking during coronavirus questionnaire from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Select the statement you most agree with: Supporting mental health in the workplace, Dealing with a problem raised by an employee, Working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, Please tell us why the information did not help, I cannot find the information I'm looking for. Make use of the resources on this page to help support your staff to continue to work from home. 1.2 The policy is intended to assist both managers and employees in implementing working from home by highlighting areas for ACAS working from home during coronavirus pandemic PAYadvice.UK 23/11/2020 Acas publishes coronavirus home working advice. They wouldn’t have a job if we didn’t have work issues. The Home Working Policy is one of a number of policies under the Work Life Balance initiative. In many workplace settings, it is hard to distinguish idle chit-chat from meaningful dialogue. If you have a question about your individual circumstances, call our helpline on 0300 123 1100. To keep working from home as healthy and productive as possible, it's important to have trust and confidence between employers and employees. #Other. OpenDocument Text (ODT) format. For example, because of changes to government rules or employees’ circumstances.