How Can Employers Keep Remote Workers Safe?

Working from home has now become a productivity strategy for many workplaces, with 83% of employees saying they prefer hybrid working. This gives employees the option to work remotely or at the office. As many workplaces move towards this model, it is important for employers to continue to care for workers’ health and safety in new ways. This includes their mental health and overall wellbeing. So what can employers do to keep hybrid workers healthy and safe?

Providing Equipment

Personal injury can easily occur if workers do not have the correct workstation and equipment. Repetitive strain injury can occur causing pain to the arms, back and/or neck and is often caused by not having the correct preventative equipment. Your employer has a duty to provide anything to reduce the risk of RSI. They may provide an armrest, wrist rest, or a suitable chair for your workstation. If your employer fails to do so and you are injured as a result, you may want to consult with your HR department or a work accident lawyer. They can help with compensation if you have medical bills or suffer unnecessary pain due to negligence.

Providing Training

Employees have a duty to protect themselves while working remotely. This means treating your workstation the same way you would if your regular place of business. Slips, trips, and falls are common accidents at work but are also likely to happen at home. Employers should train workers to keep their workstations free from any hazards such as bags or boxes on the floor and show them what the ideal workstation should look like to prevent injuries. Trips and falls also occur in dim lighting so encourage workers to light the room well. Cordless equipment also prevents accidents due to the use of extension cords. It also can prevent electrical faults due to having several plugs in one socket.

Checking Mental Wellbeing

Employers have a duty of care to protect the mental wellbeing of workers, no matter where they work. In May 2021, only 1 in 5 employees stated that their employer-provided additional health services, showing that many businesses have improvements to make in this area. When working from home, many employees may start to feel lonely, particularly if they normally live alone. Others may find it difficult to be self-motivated, even to go outside during break times. Employers can encourage remote workers to get out once per day by creating initiatives such as counting steps or cycling groups. They can also provide a mental health service that can allow employees to receive confidential counseling.  

Working from home has many benefits to employees, particularly those who may need childcare or those who have social anxieties. However, employers still must actively prevent risk to employees’ health and safety, no matter where they are working from.