Working from home has long been a practice permitted by a minority employers, but with the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become much more widespread. Many employers are now wrestling with the implications of whether – and how – to bring employees back to the office.
Employees who were accustomed to working from home before the pandemic may think that it is nothing new, but many of those who have found themselves confined to their homes at a moment’s notice are now very keen to return. Many others are equally keen not to have to do so.
Reflections of hybrid working from our employment seminar
Tozers hosted an Employment Seminar last month which talked about hybrid working and the effects of the pandemic on businesses and their staff. This seminar focussed on home-working, differences in routine, restrictions and how these changes have affected and will affect our well-being.
Employers have had to think carefully about requiring workers to come back to the office, as many employees have now become quite comfortable with their new work-life balance. Flexible working has been touted as a game-changer but has its limitations, especially where there are issues around productivity or where an employer cannot easily accommodate employee preferences.
Our seminar hosts, Stephen Jennings and Jo Parry, spoke about how employers can navigate these uncertain waters – with ever changing guidance in mind. The seminar covered many topics and frequently asked questions regarding what employers can be doing to ensure that they stay on the right side of the law. Contractual obligations and amendments to policies were a major focus point for our speakers, where they touched on how clauses dealing with remote working, obligations to come into the office and other matters, along with how the policies that would ordinarily work in person, could now be adapted to the ‘digital office’. Other issues included consultation, monitoring employees, discrimination, making arrangements future-proof and how to deal with reluctant returners.
How can Tozers help?
If this sounds like a topic you would benefit from advice on, do get in touch with our specialist team.
