Glovers warn of home-working health and safety issues
18-09-2008
Companies have today been warned by Glovers solicitors about the legal issues surrounding employees who are allowed to work from home.
New research has shown that over half of small businesses do not operate from traditional office environments, according to Bytestart
Therefore employers must be aware of health and safety issues such as the need to carry out a risk assessment on the employee's home.
Failure to do this means that they could be held responsible for any medical problems as a result of unsafe working practices, according to Glovers.
Sikin Andela, a partner at Glovers solicitors, told Bytestart employers needed to remember that "home workers are still employees and that the fact that they're working from home makes no difference to the rights or responsibilities that apply in the office".
Legally, businesses also need to draw up formal home-working policies as well as changing employment contracts and insurance provisions.
Last week, figures from the Confederation of British Industry showed that more and more UK employees were opting for flexible working hours, Employee Benefits said.
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