This H&S Policy For Working From Home During The Covid-19 Emergency has
been written in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the necessity for
many employers and employees, to have employees working from home. It is
primarily intended for office staff who use desk-based IT equipment.
The Government mandate to work from home where possible will have meant
many employers would have had no chance to get anything set up in advance.
However, all employers are responsible for the health, safety and welfare
of their employees even when they are not working at the normal workplace.
This Covid-19 Homeworking Policy has been written to help employers make
sure they are looking after their employees who are temporarily working
from their own home. The policy covers such things as; the provision of
suitable IT equipment including any specialist hardware and ensuring the
employee has a suitable area/workstation where they can work. It also
covers the provision of support to isolated employees.
When signed and dated by the most senior person in the business this
document will affirm your business’ determination to be compliant with
health and safety requirements during this time.
This Working From Home Covid-19 H&S Policy takes account of the fact
that during the Covid-19 emergency many more employees are working from
home for the first time and it may not be possible for the employer to
complete all of the normal risk assessment tasks to set up a suitable home
working environment for their employees. It is for use during the period of
Government required constraints during the Covid-19 pandemic. Once the necessary Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, if it
is subsequently decided that an employee will continue to work from home,
then a full Working from Home Risk Assessment should be carried out in the
normal way and the full policy document should be used.