Working from home rules - Everything you need to know

Working from home

Home working has become more popular over the years, especially after the covid-19 pandemic. A home workplace can have both advantages and disadvantages and there are a number of rules that the employer must be aware of.

Therefore, in this article, we will make you aware of the rules that apply in relation to home working and then review the advantages and disadvantages.

What rules apply to home working?

The home workplace must basically follow the same rules as apply to the working environment in an ordinary workplace. This is the case if the screen work at home is carried out regularly and corresponds to at least one working day per week or approx. 2 hours daily during the working week.

This includes, among other things, that the home workplace must be designed in a manner that is sound in terms of safety and health. In addition, the home workplace must provide the employee with working conditions that cultivate efficient and undisturbed work.

The employer must ensure that the employee's home workplace is furnished and equipped with relevant equipment.

The employee must also be equipped with basic components such as a screen, mouse and keyboard. It is also important that the employee has a table and chair that is adapted to the person's body and work tasks.

In addition, the employer must also decide on a number of questions about:

• Data security
• IT security
• Storage

as home working typically moves workplace data to a less controlled environment.

It is therefore crucial, for example, that the employer and employee have a clear agreement on how the equipment may be used in the private sector. Private use of the computer for games, movies or random internet searches can increase the risk of virus attacks, data destruction and technical errors.

This type of agreement may include the following elements, whether the:

• Employee may use his private email on the work computer
• Employee can use the equipment for private use of the internet
• Access to the computer is restricted to the employee, or whether the person's family can borrow the equipment

What are the benefits of home working?

Home working  can give employees more freedom and flexibility in relation to their work tasks. It can thus increase job satisfaction and motivation. In addition, working from home can also have the following benefits for both the employee and the workplace:

• The employee can plan his working day more flexibly, which can mean that the employee experiences work and family life as having greater cohesion
• The employee can save time and money on transport to and from work, which benefits both the employee and the employer
• The employee can have more peace of mind for tasks and avoid unnecessary disturbances from colleagues
• If the employee has the opportunity to decide whether they can work from home themselves, it can give a sense of influence. This is particularly beneficial in terms of mental and physical health in the workplace
• The employee can get a sense of trust from the employer, as the employee is allowed to work without supervision

The above advantages can also lead to increased satisfaction among the employees in the workplace and thus both motivation and job satisfaction increase. This can also have a positive impact on employee retention and recruitment. The workplace also benefits from the employees' increased productivity, as the company can, for example, work on more projects, which can contribute to a healthier bottom line.

However, home working can also have a number of disadvantages, which we will take a closer look at in the next section.

What are the disadvantages of home working?

Despite the many advantages of home working, there are also a number of disadvantages, for example:

• Employees may find it difficult to take time off, as leisure, family life and work merge. This can have an unfortunate effect on well being and stress
• Working at home requires a certain amount of self discipline, which is why planning plays a crucial role, otherwise the employee risks working too much or too little
• The employees may have a sense of a weakened social network with colleagues and bosses
• The employees may miss out on informal information, knowledge sharing and collaboration
• It can be a challenge for the employees to arrange their working environment optimally so that they avoid pain in muscles and joints
• Home workplaces can destabilise daily contact with employees
• It can be difficult for the employer to keep an eye on the work effort
• Home working can collide with the workplace's need for presence, for example in connection with meetings or customer service. In addition, it can create conflicts among employees, as not all employees have the same opportunity to work from home. For example, a warehouse employee is typically required to show up physically, whereas a marketing employee can carry out their tasks at home
• Home working can also be costly and time consuming, for example if it requires a restructuring of work routines or investments in new IT equipment and office furniture

A home workplace must be a safe workplace. It's about ensuring that no occupational injuries occur, which you can get more information about by clicking this button.