Remote working is not a new concept, its one which has been on the rise steadily for the past 20 years. Technology has allowed us to access the information we need to work effectively anywhere with an internet connection.  The result has been a gradual adoption of working from home with many individuals choosing to work with more flexibility with at least one day away from the office.  That was until the pandemic hit the UK in March 2020, forcing entire businesses to shift their operations to working from home overnight.  Some were invariably better prepared than others.  Those that had adopted the practice previously, investing in agile IT and cloud-based servers will likely have found the transition easier than those that had not.   

From the start of the pandemic businesses worked hard to make the most of things; adapting quickly with new systems and means of communication.  Even for businesses with some previous experience of flexible working, this will have been a significant challenge.  It is one thing to have one or two members of staff working from home once a week; moving an entire workforce out of the office proved to be far more complicated.  

For those of the belief the pandemic would be short-lived, it was easy to overlook key elements to support remote working.  From investment in IT software and hardware through to supporting employees’ mental and physical wellbeing, many actions were put off in the hope that life would soon return to normal.  Positive news of a vaccine has renewed hope that we will be able to return to some form of normal soon, but many businesses are now embracing the substantial benefits that home working can offer.  

Businesses across the UK must realise that they have to do much more to support staff who are preparing to work from their homes for many more months or even permanently.

Employees have not been properly supported

Nearly half of all UK workers were working from home during the first lockdown according to data from the Office of National Statistics.  Prior to the pandemic, less than 30% of people had ever worked from home at all. 

Remote working has long been considered a good way of offering employees greater flexibility. A poll of 1,000 UK workers found that almost a third would rather quit their job than forfeit the option to work from home on a permanent basis. 

Add to that the fact the virus itself is unlikely to be under control for many more months, meaning office working will not be deemed safe, potentially until late 2021. Evidently, businesses must accept the “new normal” of remote working.  

As it stands, this has not been the case. A YouGov survey of 1,195 employees – conducted three months into lockdown – showed that 41% of home workers have an “inappropriate” working environment.  Almost two-thirds (64%) have resorted to make-shift arrangements at kitchen tables, sofas and beds.

This is not a long-term solution and the Health & Safety Executive has stressed the importance that businesses must protect home workers – this includes the provision and set up of correct equipment and putting measures in place to ensure their mental and physical wellbeing is being looked after.

Home working requires investment

In any office of a reputable company you can expect to find ergonomic seating at a minimum.  If HR directors were to see employees sat on uncomfortable chairs, incorrectly set up or being improperly used, they would likely take action. Sadly, this is not the case as people work from home – and the mindset of it being “out of sight, out of mind” will have dangerous consequences in the longer term.

All businesses must invest in their employees’ home working setup. A recent study found that 70% of SMEs in the UK were making savings of up to £840 per month by working remotely throughout the lockdown period.  Reduced rent, travel and office running costs all contribute to these savings.  

Working from home should not be considered a cost saving exercise – at least not while staff are working in unsuitable conditions. Rather, a budget needs to be set aside to enable companies to properly equip staff with what they need to work safely, productively and comfortably. 

As companies adapt to the so-called “new normal”, ensuring their survival is likely to remain the absolute priority. However, this does not mean that the wellbeing of the workforce should be put on the back-burner. 

Rather, employers should adopt their mindset, so that employee wellbeing is viewed as a vital tool to ensuring the longevity of a company. Tellingly, in August it was reported that there was a backlog of unheard employment complaints totalling a massive 39,000. Employers will – and should – be keen to protect themselves from facing any legal backlash of their own from unwell home workers. And, this will only be possible if they prioritise employee mental and physical health within their business strategies and budgets.