So…
Mrs works from home for an employer and is using a dining room table chair. She asked her employer if they would supply a proper office chair as she back can get back ache after long periods of time. They’ve offered her £25 towards one. Does that sound right? I can see anything half decent looking for under £60…
Get her to fill in a remote worker assessment and put down she has a bad back, I think they have to supply a proper chair then.
I thought it was a requirement they had to be done these days, certainly was when I worked for Crapita, they wouldn’t let us work from home unless it had been completed.
Same here with HP. Had to have a full set of photos to show the room was good. They supplied a fully adjustable chair, docking station and other gadgets when they saw the proposed hovel I was planning.
And all to meet a travel ban of 20 min trip from home to the Telford office.
If she is getting back pain then a proper workstation assessment is important - Sorting a suitable chair is just a part of the solution and no £25 does not sound right.
If she is using a laptop then that is also a potential concern and there are laptop stands that help with posture. The HSE website is pretty good for info - Her employers have a duty to provide and assess her heath and safety, whether she works in the office or at home.
A lot of employers just take the piss out of home workers unfortunately. Their responsibility to provide a safe working environment doesn’t end because they ask people to work from home. Full assessment required and they have to provide any furniture required. I assume they aren’t the sort to sack someone who kicks off?
As a licenced HSE assessor, I did Narelle’s assessment when she was working from home. I provided her employer with the assessment and she was told to buy what she needed and submit her receipt.
The were, apart from cancelling her contract, very good employers. She still has the chair plus her company supplied laptop.
My understanding is that, while the law requires one thing, employers vary in their adherence.
Ok thanks guys I’ll share your advise.
advice
The above advice is sound and proper. Sadly it doesn’t factor in the ‘What would James Bond do’ equation. To this end it might be beneficial to follow the above assessment steps and purchase one of these:
Setting aside an afternoon to reconnoiter ‘Evil Boss’ may well bare fruit… Clearly he tosses himself to oblivion in this panoramic office penthouse and probably visits his mistress during lunch.
Bingo - 50% pay rise and 75% hours reduction. Go for gold with the share options and healthcare package.
Cheaper than a drone, how to work from home…
I just took a chair from the office. 12 years ago. No-one seems to have noticed.
I sit on the sofa with the laptop on a coffee table and put some music on
Me too. Although my employer insists upon appropriate exercise for the shoulders and hips to compensate.