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As lockdown eases, many employers need to make decisions around future working arrangements. Should employees return to the office? Or would a permanent work from home policy be better.
The Government’s blueprint for returning to work isn’t completely clear. Right now, the general advice is to continue to work from home wherever it’s practical and non-essential.
However, it states that all sectors can return to work in August. With childcare facilities opening for all at the end of July, some normality should resume. Employers now need to make plans on how to proceed.
Some predict that office occupancy will be down by half for at least another year. But when, or if, you return will depend on your business.
Facebook is set to reopen its Irish offices in early July, while Twitter’s CEO has said its employees can work from home forever if they want to. Those with limited office space may need to take both approaches.
Here’s what employers should know about both scenarios.
The Government’s return to work safely protocol sets out what employers must do before reopening a workplace. Here are some of the key steps which will enable a return to the office.
Alongside worker representatives, employers should create or update their Covid-19 response plan. This should cover:
Employers are also required to assign a manager to oversee these protocols.
At this stage, we know how Covid-19 spreads. But, on a return to the office, businesses should educate employees about the specific measures in place at their office. This will provide both clarity and reassurance.
This can be achieved through:
It’s likely that most spaces will need to be restructured to encourage social distancing and reduce the risk of contamination while at work.
Staggered shifts and break times can assist social distancing upon a return to the office. For example:
The workplace should be cleaned thoroughly and regularly, so a schedule like this can make it easier for cleaning staff to do their jobs safely.
Remote work has its upsides. It can be cost-effective and lead to happier, more productive employees. However, if you opt to work from home, there is still plenty to consider in terms of health and safety - as well as security and employee wellbeing.
Responsibility is blurred right now, but going forward here’s what you need to consider when implementing a remote work policy for the future.
An April survey by Irish Jobs found half of those working from home during Covid-19 were set up at their kitchen tables. While a UK survey two weeks into lockdown found that over half of those working from home developed new aches and pains in the neck, shoulders and back.
Employers still have a duty of care to staff who work from home and should look at:
The HSA has some useful FAQs on this too.
Recently, Revenue staff working from home were asked to turn off smart speakers in order to protect sensitive information. There’s a lot to consider in terms of cybersecurity and data protection, but here are some basic steps to help protect your business:
Irish Jobs’ survey also found that 44% of people working from home are putting in more hours. But employers should be cautious of this.
The Organisation of Working Time Act requires employers to keep a detailed record of staff working hours - but this can be tricky when pursuing a work from home policy.
According to IrishLegal.com, employers should put clauses in employee contracts requiring them to record their hours. This should then be repeated in a work from home policy. Online timing tools make this easy and can encourage staff to stick to their normal hours.
You’ll find our advice on hiring and managing remote workers here. But if you have any other questions on returning to the office or working online, contact Prosperity. Our expert team would be delighted to share their industry insights with you.
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