(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk) Coronavirus has meant loads of people are now working from home … For example, working in 45-60 minute chunks of focused work followed by a short break. For those who might find themselves at home for an extended period of time, what is the best way to maximise productivity, maintain good physical and mental health, and not spend all day in your pyjamas when working from home? Do you need to put control measures in place to protect them? A supermarket closed in Codogno, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown, on February 23, 2020. This guidance is intended to support employers and the self-employed to continue to facilitate working from home in line with the Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland’s Strategic Framework. The health and safety toolbox: How to control risks at work, Deciding who will help you with your duties, Reporting accidents, incidents and diseases, How to carry out a COSHH risk assessment, Simple checks to control dust and mist. There is no increased risk from DSE work for those working at home temporarily. When someone is working from home, permanently or temporarily, as an employer you should consider: There will always be greater risks for lone workers with no direct supervision or anyone to help them if things go wrong. Home working can cause work-related stress and affect people’s mental health. When we originally published this toolkit, the first paragraph mentioned being past the peak of infection and looking ahead to coming out of lockdown in the near future. Millions of workers have found themselves facing the prospect of having to work from home for long periods of time due to the coronavirus pandemic. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? If working from home is our post-coronavirus future, let’s not forget its complex past. Employers should try to meet those needs where possible. “When we’re in the office our day is normally broken up with meetings. And we've just discovered another one. As lockdown restrictions have varied, some workers have begun returning to their offices, at the discretion of their employers. UNISON is working proactively with the UK governments and other bodies to keep you safe at work. Britons will be told to ‘work from home if you can’ as one of a package of new measures to fight the second wave of coronavirus. However individuals who have to self-isolate for 14 days when returning to the UK from some countries abroad (continually under review by the UK government ) are not eligible for statutory sick pay if they do not need to self-isolate for any other reason. Our research found that 60% of the UK’s adult population are currently working from home during the Coronavirus lockdown. Coronavirus (COVID-19): update This page has been updated to take account of working arrangements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This can affect stress levels and mental health. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. Distinguishing between work and home mode is essential, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Can face masks really protect you against coronavirus or flu? Coronavirus: 'Work from home if you can' and 10pm nightlife ban as government tries to tackle virus surge. Being in an office gives us a limited number of ways to get distracted but when you start working in a new environment (especially a very familiar one) it can be easy to let yourself get distracted. You’ll return feeling refreshed and more productive for the rest of the day.”. BORIS JOHNSON held a press conference on Thursday to deliver the latest public health advice on the coronavirus outbreak in the UK… On average, each of these workers will save £44.78 a week by cutting out things like commuting and buying lunch out. “There are a lot of potential distractions when we work from home,” says Eyre-White. How to stay focused when working from home. Put procedures in place so you can keep in direct contact with home workers so you can recognise signs of stress as early as possible. In order to be productive she recommends imposing structure on yourself. The guidance can be applied across any sector where working from home is a feasible option for both workers and businesses. WORKERS with underlying health issues might be wondering if they can ask to work from home as coronavirus continues to spread. This practical workstation checklist may help them. According to Money Saving Expert and all-round financial guru, Martin Lewis, anyone who has worked from home since April 6 2020 - even for just one day - can claim tax relief for the entire year – worth £60 or £125. As an employer, you have the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as for any other workers. “So proactively manage things which might interrupt your focus.”, She explains: “Keep them limited to short breaks in between chunks of focused work. For those people who are working at home on a long-term basis, the risks associated with using display screen equipment (DSE) must be controlled. At the start of the first lockdown, only key workers were expected to leave their homes to go to work, with the government advising everyone else to only leave their households to buy food, medicine or to do one daily form of exercise. We asked Karen Eyre-White, a productivity coach and founder of GoDo business organisation, for her advice on making the most of home working. On 22 September, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that, in a bid to slow the second wave of the coronavirus, any workers who can work from home should do so – for another six months. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. This results in 23.9 million Brits working from home are saving around £1.1 billion each week between them. everyone who can work from home must do so; if you cannot work from home, plan your journey to avoid crowds This comes after MPs had been encouraging workers to return to the office, as long as social distancing measures had been put in place. A new report commissioned by the business division of mobile operator O2, which is based on two recent surveys of UK workers, has found that 45% of respondents predict a permanent change in their employers’ approach to flexible working when the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) lockdown lifts.. However, employers should provide workers with advice on completing their own basic assessment at home. It's also a good idea to wash your hands frequently and wear a face covering. For some equipment (eg keyboards, mouse, riser) this could mean allowing workers to take this equipment home. Coronavirus: Coping with the challenges of working from home. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health and wellbeing. “A wide, open day working from home can feel full of possibilities. A change of scene is all we need to give our brain a break, and it’s the perfect time to put a load of washing on or empty the dishwasher.”. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. From 6 January, a national lockdown applies in all of England. This page has been updated to take account of working arrangements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. A view of the empty entrance to the Università Cattolica (Catholic University) in Milan, northern Italy, on 24 February, 2020. Read our full mailing list consent terms here. If you are self-isolating but cannot do your work at home, then, by law you should at least receive statutory sick pay. “ In contrast, a day at home can be very unstructured.”. Empty streets in Daegu, South Korea, on 23 February 2020. “Leave your desk for lunch and take advantage of being at home to walk the dog and blow the cobwebs away for half an hour in the afternoon. If you can’t work from home your employer should make sure your workplace is ‘Covid-secure’. Research has shown that having a diagnosis of high blood pressure is associated with increased death rates in … The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. Working from home. As any period of temporary home working extends, employers should have regular discussions with workers to assess whether additional steps are needed, for example where they report: Where employers decide to make working from home arrangements permanent, they should explain how to carry out full workstation assessments and provide workers with appropriate equipment and advice on control measures. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? You can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home. A view of a deserted street in Codogno, northern Italy, on February 23, 2020. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. So in that situation employers do not need to ask them to carry out home workstation assessments. Working from home UK: Should I be working from home? Working from home shouldn't mean that you don't socialise with anyone. No problem! Disciplinary and grievance procedures. “Maybe it’s walking round the block, making a special kind of tea, or lighting a candle at your desk. Advice on time off during coronavirus, using and carrying over holiday, and returning to the UK. From attending work conferences in your PJs to ordering Nando's on Deliveroo for lunch, working from home does have its perks. 145 things on the to do list? Millions of workers have found themselves facing the prospect of having to work from home for long periods of time due to the coronavirus pandemic. Boris Johnson says everyone should work from home where possible, We asked Karen Eyre-White, a productivity coach and founder of, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}, Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty, How to be productive when working from home. “Switch from home to work mode,” she says, by having something you physically do to “flip the switch”. This has meant a major shift for individuals and organisations. Working from home has become widespread since restrictions to control Covid-19 were introduced in the UK. Overview of homeworking. Working from home during coronavirus. Although this can be frustrating, they divide the day up and create natural chunks of time,” explains Eyre-White. Being away from managers and colleagues could make it difficult to get proper support. Will young workers be the victims of the decline of the office? Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. This document details practical steps and considerations for employers and employees which will allow them to create healthy, sustainable homeworking conditions using the SHARE approach. However, many others are continuing to work from home, attempting to keep their motivation levels as high as possible as they navigate working in a domestic environment. On 4 January 2021 national lockdowns were announced for England and Scotland. The Government has said everyone in the UK should avoid "non-essential" travel and contact with others to help curb the spread of coronavirus as patients continue to multiply in the UK. Beta This is a new way of showing guidance - your feedback will help us improve it. In the office your day is broken up by everything from meetings to water-cooler chats, lunch breaks and even toilet breaks, but when you are sat at home on your own with no face-to-face interaction planned it can be easy to just work for long, unbroken periods. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. What work activity will they be doing (and for how long)? This article investigates to what extent different people within the labour market work from home, either on a regular or occasional basis. A lone sanitation worker sits near the closed Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on February 24, 2020. For others, it's just like any other week. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. She suggests choosing three to five things to do and aim to get the majority done before lunch. It can be difficult to tear yourself away from your laptop if you’re worried people might think you’re slacking off, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take breaks. The prime minister will update MPs and … This includes banning companies from buying medicines like insulin that are meant for UK patients and selling on for a higher price in another country. Empty streets in Daegu, South Korea, on 23 February, 2020. “We all slow down in the mid-afternoon and having a lot of your list under your belt will give you the momentum to power through,” she recommends. Growing number of Britons working from home, says ONS This article is more than 6 months old Many businesses reluctant to reopen during coronavirus pandemic, data suggests Of those who did some work from home, 86.0% did so as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For the latest government guidance: in England, see national lockdown advice on going to work on GOV.UK; in Scotland, see Scottish Government advice on working from home If your people are working from home you should: provide the equipment they need, for example a computer, phone and videoconferencing facilities; keep in regular contact with them, making sure you discuss their wellbeing; How to protect home workers Don’t fall into the trap of being over-ambitious,” says Eyre-White. Keep in touch with lone workers, including those working from home, and ensure regular contact to make sure they are healthy and safe. This also includes making sure you make time to make proper meals and drink water regularly, rather than snacking continuously throughout the day and then crashing in a sugar slump at 3pm. This includes them doing workstation assessments at home. A lone cyclist wearing sanitary masks pedals in the center of Codogno, Northern Italy. Coronavirus (COVID-19) support is available. Don’t forget that you are there to work - so set yourself up the right way, get dressed and brush your teeth at the start of the day rather than sitting in your pyjamas for eight hours. Working from home two days a week is the most popular option, but one in 12 people are planning to ask their employer if they can work from home permanently, its report indicated. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. A man wearing a face mask crosses a road in Wuhan, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak. One of the biggest perks about working from home - slowly moving from bed to the sofa five minutes before you start - can also be your biggest challenge, says Eyre-White. But Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, said coronavirus will have a long-lasting effect on how people in the UK work, with a step change in the proportion of people working from home on a … The government has been working with industry and partners to monitor the impact of coronavirus on the UK supply chain of medicines and technology and put in place measures to protect UK patients. It is also important to have an emergency point of contact and to share this so people know how to get help if they need it. Talking with your workers about working safely during the coronavirus pandemic. With the current outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), most people are expected to work from home where possible. It’s fair to say there have been a lot of twists and turns since then, and a lot of emotional pressures. Related Are you prepared to work from home? For example, you should ensure that housemates or family members do not take photographs or make social media posts which could compromise client confidentiality by including, for example, file names containing clients’ personal data or documents. Working from home as most of us are, the challenges around privilege and confidentiality are different to those in the office. “This can be an effective way to break the day up and maintain your concentration levels,” she says. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. As an employer, you have the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as for any other workers. Tips on happier ways to work from home in the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. Two different vaccines have been approved for use in the UK so far. It doesn’t matter what it is but do it without fail to create a strong association in your mind,” she says. “If you’re the kind of person who'll miss your colleagues when you work from home, build opportunities for socialising in to your day,” says Eyre-White, who recommends trying to call colleagues rather than always email or Slack messaging. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. “If you really struggle to apply yourself when you’re on your own, try virtual ‘body doubling’ - connect with a colleague via a Skype video call but both work ‘live' on your own project rather than chatting,” she says. HSE aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. breaking up long spells of DSE work with rest breaks (at least 5 minutes every hour) or changes in activity, avoiding awkward, static postures by regularly changing position, getting up and moving or doing stretching exercises, avoiding eye fatigue by changing focus or blinking from time to time, aches, pains or discomfort related to their temporary DSE arrangements, adverse effects of working in isolation, on remote IT systems, working longer hours without adequate rest and recovery breaks. “Just because you’re feeling comfy at home, it doesn’t mean you don’t need a proper break,” says Eyre-White. 2. Employers and employees should be practical, flexible and sensitive to each other's situation when working from home because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. If contact is poor, workers may feel disconnected, isolated or abandoned. Instead, she recommends being realistic and then possibly achieving more than you set out to; and feeling satisfied, rather than feeling disappointed you didn’t do everything. For other larger items (eg ergonomic chairs, height-adjustable desks) encourage workers to try other ways of creating a comfortable working environment (eg supporting cushions). There are some simple steps people can take to reduce the risks from display screen work: The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors has published infographics to help people working at home. An empty road at the entrance of the small Italian town of Codogno on February 23, 2020. 'We need people to start working from home where they possibly can,' declared Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread throughout the UK… Thousands of people are likely to be working from home for the first time this week due to the coronavirus outbreak. Italian police officers set a road block in Codogno, Northern Italy, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. So far, 382 people in the UK …