If you work from home regularly...

[Thefifthbeatle]

(Sorry, have NCd for this, as I know some of my colleagues are MNs.)

Could I ask whether your employer did anything to check health and safety - did they come to your house and check that your work space was safe, or did they rely on you confirming that it was?

Did they give you a chair that moved up and down etc, or any of the sort of equipment that you'd get at your normal desk if you were still in the office, or did they let you sort yourself out?

The HSE is about as clear as mud as to what my employer has to do and what would be a nice thing for them to do, and I'm not sure what's normal or reasonable. The HSE is even talking about some employees providing fire extinguishers etc - I just can't see my boss going for this at all. Could I possibly check what's normal in practice? I don't want to ask for more than is standard practice and come across as unreasonable.

Thanks very much in advance.

Absolutely nothing! Same in my last job. I wouldn’t expect them to as working from home is optional and I could decline, but it’s the only way I get all the washing done!

Nothing at all

I've been WFH for 7 years and my employer has never come out to do an assessment 😬

They recently launched some online training about how high to have your monitor, how to sit at your desk properly, reminding us to do stretches etc. This was more cost-effective for them than sending out consultants to undertake home assessments as we have a lot of people that WFH.

They did make us buy a fire extinguisher a few years ago and expense it. No idea where it is now... 🤔

Nothing but its my choice to work at home, if my home environment didnt suit my work then I could go into the office where all of what you talk about is there.

I work for a public sector organisation. They start looking at your health and safety at home if you work from home most of the time (for example 3 days a week). I am not in that position so I don't know what it entails... I imagine a workstation assessment in order to avoid repetitive strain injuries, back problems etc.

I have a DSE assessment form to complete but that's it.

I had to do my own work station risk assessment once. I have a monitor and a height thing for laptop. I’d bloody love a new chair but I can imagine works reaction if I asked!

Absolutely nothing at all, I often work from my kitchen sofa!

I am the H&S officer and working at home. Technically I should give myself a good talking to about working on my bed today :D

Your employer is obligated to ensure your work area is fit for purpose and this includes home. Most of my team are based overseas so there's no way I could visit (and technically UK law doesn't apply) so I ask them to complete a DSE assessment and we'll pay for anything they need

No, home working is normal in my company (about 1/3 full time home workers and 2/3 regular home workers) and nothing like this is done.

Though it looks like legally perhaps it should be!

I think if you are formally designated as a home worker as in your contract specifies you work only at home then my public sector employee does (or used to) provide some things. Otherwise nothing.

@keats334 Yes they're legally obliged. Here's the relevant info

www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/

Bloody hell I've turned into an H&S nerd!

Nothing whatsoever but I really think they should as I work at my kitchen table which is a really bad height. We must do min 2 days a week from home (public sector, rationalising office space), but no hint of checking workstation suitability

Not a thing but then again I've never formally requested wfh via official channels. Just done it and/or agreed with line manager.

Then again, I've never had any form of HSE at my office either, in any job I've worked in.

Had adjustable chairs and screens, but just done what felt comfy for me.

I've got a special chair!

Nothing

@InOtterNews thanks, i'll have a read and pass on to the relevant people!

I filled out a risk assessment form when I started about my workspace, they only provide computer equipment. Desk/chair/keyboard rest etc. I’ve bought myself.

No nothing, even when I was contracted to work at home and had no office to "choose" to work in.

I suspect if you did have an office you could go to, you'd get little...

According to my employer, there's a world of a difference between a home based worker and an employee who sometimes chooses to work from home.

The former should be provided with the correct furniture, and can claim appropriate expenses etc but the latter has an option of working from the office, so home working is at their own cost.

we had to do a self assessment and sign it.
without we were not allowed to wfh
equipment was to be provided by ourselves (bar company laptop) as it's a privileg.

I work for a public sector organisation. They start looking at your health and safety at home if you work from home most of the time (for example 3 days a week)

Not in my Local Authority.
I do a lot of work from home. They are just glad they can provide less office space / fewer desks / sell off the odd building. Nobody has ever asked me to even sign something to say I have a suitable work space.

Nothing at all here, no formal home working arrangement just as and when. I have a desk set up at home but a lot of my colleagues work on their laps, on coffee tables or in bed!