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The legal side of home working considered
18/09/2008
A lawyer has urged employers of those enjoying the perks of flexible working from home to consider the legal aspects of the issue.Silkin Andela of Glovers solicitors has said that failing to take into account the legal consequences of having employees working from home could cause "substantial" problems for businesses, bytestart.co.uk reported.
The representative commented: "It's important to remember that employers are responsible for the health, safety and welfare of their employees, regardless of where they're working - even if it's their own home."
Other legal issues include adjusting insurance and employment contracts accordingly, carrying out risk assessments on employees' homes and checking equipment meets health and safety requirements.
Employers may be liable for "any subsequent medical problems that are a result of a poor working environment or unsafe working practices," the advisor pointed out.
A study undertaken by the Confederation of British Employment and recruiters Pertemps found that 46 per cent of employers currently offer their staff the chance to work from home.
