Posted By Katrina McGuire
For any of those who have implemented homeworking, do you provide equipment such as a suitable table/chair or do you place the responsibility on the employee to source/purchase?

Posted By Katrina McGuire
Many thanks for that. Would I be correct in assuming that you reimburse them to a certain level? Also would these be employees working the majority of their time at home?

Thanks again for your help.

Posted By AlisonSM
Hi Katrina

I used to do DSE assessments for home workers in my last position. Is home-working in the employee's terms of employment or do they do it "ad-hoc"?

To clarify, I used to work occasionally from home if I had been at a client site and it would have been longer to head back to the office to start the report. I wasn't classified as a home-worker as there was nothing in my contract to say I HAD to work from home. My company didn't provide me with any equipment as I chose to work there as it saved me time and petrol.

However, if the member of staff had to work from home (there wasn't a suitable office nearby and/or they did a lot of travel) and / or it was written into their contract, then I believe the company should provide the equipment.

One thing that is required by law is a display screen assessment if the person works at home for more than about an hour (so is classified as a user). This would look at the workstation components desk, chair etc and assess whether they were suitable and sufficient for the work being undertaken. I think you'd find at the very least a desk of some description, a chair and a computer would be required. A footrest if the person is of smaller stature may also be needed. If they were after a laptop, I'd consider a docking station with an additional keyboard and mouse as well as the chair etc....

Hope that helps.

Posted By Katrina McGuire
Most of our homeworking is by choice and we have already carried out assessments; indeed the issue arose as a result of these assessments.

Thanks very much for the information, this seems a very reasonable approach. i.e. providing equipment if you are forcing them to work at home etc.

Many thanks again for the advice!

Posted By Katrina McGuire
Thanks Dave

Posted By Ron Hunter
There is a big difference between "homeworkers" and occasional "working from home" (which may be at employee discretion as well as the employer). It also depends on the task to be undertaken.
I would be perfectly happy to have an employee at home reading papers, reports etc., maybe making some comments on a dicataphone, all from their favourite armchair - especially if they have a cold or 'flu'!