‘Working from home can be a big transition’
By Maurice Garvey
REMOTE working has become a staple part of life in recent weeks, at least it is for those of us lucky enough to still have a job thanks to Covid-19.
Whether you are working full-time or part-time at home, potential conflicts need to be avoided between employer and employees by establishing clear policies, according to Rob Roe, a Kingswood native who runs safety training business Safety Squad.
Rob Roe from Safety Squad
Potential issues Roe sees down the line are damage or theft to work equipment at home, and injury for someone working remotely.
“If your house is now a work station, it is a bit of a grey area,” said Roe.
“It doesn’t seem like a problem now, but rules need to be defined. The likes of Sky have supplied workers with a chair and desk, they hired a company to deliver that.
“I’m telling employers to get a policy in place and if I’m an employee, I’d be looking for that agreement. If I don’t know the rules, I don’t know how to play the game. People should know the rules.”
Another concern for Roe is bullying, something that can happen in a workplace and at home via communication platforms.
He says the last few week of Covid-19 have “changed the landscape of business”, and he is currently in the process of uploading remote working policy guidelines for employers and employees on his Safety Squad website.
“I am working remotely, all training was cancelled but it gives me a bit of time to push the online training,” he said.
Health and wellbeing is another obvious area workers need to be aware of.
“Working from home can be a big transition, discipline is involved” said Roe.
“Take scheduled breaks. Try setting an alarm to get up and stretch every hour. Protect your time. Set “in office” hours and communicate these with both colleagues and family.
“Pay attention to ergonomics. Use the most comfortable chair you can with back support or pillow. Also consider investing in a hands-free headset or earbuds for long phone calls.”
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