Updates to Homeworker Legislation
Look after a team of staff and wondering how to make sure they’re working efficiently and comfortably whilst they’re at home? We can help.
This year, 46% of people in employment begun working from home. This now of course doesn’t look likely to change for some time. With advice for employees to work from home if they can, this has seen companies large and small across the country preparing for longer periods of homeworking.
At first, temporary homeworkers may not have experienced many aches and pains. However, now this has become more long term, it is the employers’ responsibility to ensure all staff have the appropriate workstation set-up to avoid problems later down the line.
What should employers do if staff are working from home?
Keep in touch – when employees work from home it’s always a good idea to keep in touch for easy communication and to boost morale.
Consider DSE training – virtual training is a great way of teaching entire departments and offices so everyone is up to date.
Keep up to date with health and safety legislation – recent updates to legislation now mean that employers have the same responsibilities for those working at home as well as in the office when it comes to workstations.
Check employee workstations – it’s really important that your staff aren’t sat in unconventional positions or areas of the house such as the floor, sofa or bed. This can quickly lead to musculoskeletal disorders. Ensuring they have the appropriate chair, desk or accessories can really help with comfort.
What you should do?
Recent updates to the Health and Safety Executive state that employers should provide workers with advice on completing their own basic display screen equipment (DSE) assessment at home. For those employees with pre-existing musculoskeletal problems or members of staff who are struggling with more severe aches and pains, a full DSE assessment should be carried out.
Next steps
If you have a team of people working from home whether it be a department or entire office, we offer remote basic DSE training in order for employees to improve their home set-up. This means that large groups of employees all receive the same training so that you can help prevent any problems later down the line which may lead to prolonged absence or reduced productivity.
On the other hand, if you have an employee who is already suffering with musculoskeletal issues, you can book a remote or face to face DSE assessment with one of our trained assessors who will be able to take an in depth look into their home set-up. This means each individual gets a specific report and any recommendations to improve their comfort when working.