What is included in a Working From Home Policy?

This Working From Home Policy template covers: regular and ad-hoc working from home how working from home arrangements can be requested employees’ hours of work equipment and materials expenses security health and safety obligations insurance ending working from home arrangements

Why do I need a Working From Home Policy?

Although there’s no legal requirement to have one, putting in place a Working From Home Policy ensures that your employees are informed about their rights and obligations regarding working from home (either on a regular or an ad-hoc basis). It helps them to understand the processes for making working from home requests and how such requests will be handled. Having a Working From Home Policy also shows that your business considers your employees’ specific and personal needs and that it is committed to offering staff a good work-life balance.

What are regular and ad-hoc working from home?

Regular working from home generally follows a set pattern, for example, where employees regularly work from home on certain days (eg Tuesdays). Ad-hoc working from home is working from home where there is no set pattern and the days worked from home are irregular. This is typically used where working from home is necessary for an employee to, for example, oversee repair works or accept deliveries at their home.

Do employees have to work their regular hours while working from home?

Employees that are working from home can either work their regular hours or they may work flexible hours . Flexible hours can allow employees to adapt their work commitments to other responsibilities, for example, childcare. When employees work flexible hours, you should specify any core hours they should be working and available for.

What are employers’ health and safety responsibilities when employees are working from home?

Employers have the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as for any other workers . This applies regardless of whether employees are working from home on a temporary, ad-hoc, or long-term basis. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires an employer to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all of its employees, including employees who work from home. For more information, read Health and safety , Employer health and safety responsibilities for staff working from home and Employer first aid obligations for employees working from home . You should also make a Health and safety policy if you do not already have one.

What are some of an employer’s specific health and safety obligations?

Employers should be aware of their specific obligations to employees, including health and safety obligations to home workers. Most notably: encouraging employees to liaise with their line managers to ensure their workstations are appropriate and that they are working in a safe manner reminding employees to take responsibility for their own health and safety and that of anyone else in the home who is affected by their work requiring employees to notify their line managers if they feel any discomfort due to working from home (eg back pain), or if they feel that there are any work-related health and safety hazards. Line managers should then be instructed to escalate matters if necessary, so that an appropriate party can look into what actions can be taken to resolve the issues informing employees of the steps they can take to achieve a comfortable posture while working from home on display screen equipment (DSE) providing guidelines about safe working practices to help prevent accidents and injuries, including musculoskeletal injuries reminding employees to follow the usual reporting procedures, for example, for any work-related accidents that occur in their homes and reporting sickness

Do I need to provide my employees with equipment?

It may not be possible to provide everyone with the ideal equipment for working from home, although employers should provide equipment where this is required by employees with a disability . You should take each request on a case-by-case basis.

Do employees that are working from home need insurance?

Employees who are working from home should be aware that this may affect their home and contents insurance . They should check with their home and contents insurance provider to ensure that the appropriate insurance coverage is in place. Where the type of homeworking carried out by the employee requires visitors to their house for purposes related to the business, you may consider asking them to take out public liability insurance . Public liability insurance covers the costs of compensating members of the public for any death, injury, or damage to their property that occurs because of your or your employees’ negligence. While not compulsory, public liability cover protects the employee from loss or damage resulting from claims made by anyone who visits their home in connection with the business. It’s a good idea to check whether your business’ own public liability insurance covers home working situations too, so that you’re covered if the business is found to be responsible following these sorts of legal cases. For more information, read Business insurance .

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Other Names: Homeworking Policy Home Working Policy Remote Working Policy Homework Policy WFH Policy

Working From Home Policy document preview

What is a Working From Home Policy?

A Working From Home Policy sets out an employer's approach to home working. Working From Home Policies give employees clear guidance on how they can request to work from home, provide guidelines for home workers to follow, and explain how the employer deals with issues like security and health and safety when employees work from home.

When should I use a Working From Home Policy?

Use this Working From Home Policy:

if your business has employees
when your employees may request to work from home on a regular or an ad-hoc basis
when you want to set out guidance for employees in relation to working from home

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Complies with relevant laws

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WORKING FROM HOME POLICY

Statement and Purpose of Policy

(the Employer) supports working from home for all staff and will agree to an employee working from home in appropriate circumstances,.
In certain circumstances, occasional or permanent working from home allows the Employer to accommodate a disability and can be requested as flexible working.
This Policy sets out how requests for working from home can be made, how such requests are dealt with and the conditions on which working from home will be approved.
The Employer may amend this Policy at any time, at our absolute discretion.

What Does This Policy Cover?

This Policy and the rules contained within it apply to all employees, irrespective of seniority, tenure and working hours, including all directors and officers, casual or agency staff, trainees, interns, fixed-term staff and volunteers.

Requests to Work From Home

You can make an application to work from home. Any such application will be considered on its merits. However, note that not all jobs or roles are suitable to work from home.
A request to work from home is unlikely to be approved if:
1. you need to be present in the office to perform your role (e.g. because it involves specialised equipment only available in the office);
2. you require supervision to deliver an acceptable quantity or quality of work;
3. your current standard of work or your performance, as indicated by your line manager or most recent performance review, is unsatisfactory; or
4. you have an unexpired warning relating to conduct of performance.
When applying to work from home, you will need to show that you can:
1. effectively manage your workload, meeting work deadlines
2. work independently, motivating yourself and relying on your own initiative; and
3. adapt to new working practices when working from home, including maintaining contact with colleagues and managers.

Response to Working From Home Applications

If the Employer refuser your request to work from home, you will be given a written response stating the reasons for refusal. If you are unhappy with our decision, you may appeal.
If the Employer accepts your application to work from home, this will be recorded in writing. Any such acceptance may be subject to a trial period.
Any agreement regarding your working from home, will include the following terms:
1. While working from home, you will continue to be subject to the same performance measures, objectives and processes as when you were working on the business premises.
2. Your line manager will continue to supervise you, taking steps to address and rectify any problems. Your line manager will also ensure that you are up to date with information relevant to your work.
3. You agree to attend the business premises or other reasonable location for training courses, important meetings or other events which you are expected to attend in person.
4. You acknowledge that when you attend the business premises, you may have to share a desk or hot desk.

Hours of Work

Please make sure that you take adequate rest breaks throughout the day, as set out in your employment contract.
In the event that you need to change your hours of work (e.g. to deal with the potentially conflicting demands of work and looking after children), please discuss any changes you need to your working schedule with your line manager.

Communicating With Your Line Manager

Make sure you keep in regular contact with your line manager and notify them if you are unsure about what you are required to do.
You should consider all lines of communication, including email, telephone and video calls to ensure relationships are maintained and work continues.

Equipment and Materials

Expenses

You will be responsible for any other associated costs of you working from home, including the costs of heating, lighting, electricity and printing.

Security

You are responsible for ensuring the security of all equipment, documents and information and must take all necessary steps to ensure that confidential information is kept secure at all times. In particular, you must:
1. password protect any confidential information held on your home computer;
2. lock your computer whenever it is left unattended;
3. store confidential papers securely when they are not in use;
4. ensure the secure disposal of any confidential papers (e.g. by using a shredder if there is one available); and
5. report any data security breaches to your line manager immediately.

Health and Safety

When working from home, you must take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of anyone else in the home who is affected by your work while working from home.
You should follow all health and safety instructions issued by the Employer's from time to time, including attending any health and safety training.
Liaise with your line manager to make sure that your workstation is appropriate and that you are working in a safe manner.
There are steps you can take to make sure you achieve a comfortable posture while working from home on display screen equipment (DSE). Please watch the video from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on workstation set-up at www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/workers/home.htm.
While working with DSE, please also observe these guidelines:
1. Break up long spells of DSE work with rest breaks (at least five minutes every hour) or changes in activity.
2. Avoid awkward, static postures by regularly changing your position.
3. Get up and move around or do stretching exercises.
4. Avoid eye fatigue by changing focus or blinking from time to time.
Notify your line manager and the HR department if you identify any work-related health and safety concerns or hazards while working from home.
You should follow the usual reporting procedures for any work-related accidents that occur in your home.
For health and safety purposes, the Employer retains the right to inspect and check your home office. The need for such inspections will depend on your specific circumstances, including the nature of your work.

Insurance

You acknowledge and understand that working from home may affect your home and contents insurance.
You should check with your home and contents insurance providers that they have adequate cover for the fact that you work from home and whether any of your own equipment is covered for work use.

Rental or Mortgage Arrangements

You acknowledge and understand that working from home may affect your mortgage, lease or tenancy agreement.
You are responsible for checking any applicable mortgage or rental agreement to ensure that you can work from home. If permission is necessary, you must make all necessary arrangements with your bank, mortgage provider or landlord before commencing to work from home.

Termination of Working From Home Arrangement

The Employer reserves the right to bring your working from home arrangement to an end (e.g. if your role changes and working from home is no longer suitable), by providing you with notice.
If you wish to terminate your working from home arrangement, you should first notify your line manager. The Employer will only be able to accept the termination if there is sufficient space available for you to return to work on the business premises.

Attribution

This Working From Home Policy was created using a document from Rocket Lawyer (https://www.rocketlawyer.com/gb/en).

About Working From Home Policies

Learn more about making your Working From Home Policy

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How to make a Working From Home Policy
Making your Working From Home Policy online is simple. Just answer a few questions and Rocket Lawyer will build your document for you. When you have all of the information about your business’ approach to working from home prepared in advance, creating your document is a quick and easy process.

You’ll need the following information:

The employer
- What is the employer’s name (ie the business’ name)?
Working from home requests
- Can employees request to work from home on a regular basis? If so:
  - How much notice do they need to give when requesting to work from home regularly?
  - Within what time period will the employer respond to applications to regularly work from home?
- Can employees request to work from home on an ad-hoc basis? If so:
  - How much notice do they need to give when requesting ad-hoc working from home: 1, 2 or 3 days?
  - Is there a maximum number of ad-hoc working from home days employees may take each month?
- Do employees have to wait until their probation period has ended before they can request home working?
- If an employee is unhappy with the outcome of a request, how can they appeal it: in line with your Grievance policy or procedure, or with a specific person?
Arrangements and guidelines for working from home
- Do employees have to work (your workplace’s/their) normal hours when working from home?
  - If not, during which core hours must they be working?
- Does the employer have a Health and safety policy, Data protection policy, Communications and equipment policy, and/or a Flexible working policy in place?
- Will the employer provide equipment and materials for the homeworker?
- Will employees be reimbursed for work-related telephone and internet costs while working from home?
  - How about other work-related costs incurred while working from home? If so, what limit is set on these expense claims?
- If employees working from home must pay additional insurance premiums, will the employer cover these?
- Do employees working from home need to have public liability insurance? If so, how much does this need to cover?
- If the employer wants to end a working from home arrangement, how much notice must they give the employee?
Will a working from home arrangement end immediately if an employee receives a verbal warning (eg for misconduct)? A written warning? An unsatisfactory appraisal?
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Common terms in a Working From Home Policy
Working From Home Policies set out how a business handles working from home arrangements. To do this, this Policy template includes sections headed:

Statement and purpose of Policy

The Policy starts by identifying the business subject to its provisions. It then sets out the reasons why the business is creating the Policy and highlights its commitment to supporting working from home arrangements either on a regular basis, an ad-hoc basis, or both. It’s also noted that the employer may change this Policy at any time.

Who does this Policy cover?

This section sets out who the Policy applies to. For example, all staff including volunteers and casual staff.

Requests to work from home

This section sets out how working from home requests may be made. For example, it covers:
- when requests may be made
- what employees should demonstrate in order to work from home (eg effective workload management)
- when applications may be refused (eg if the employee requires in-person supervision)
- what written requests to work from home should cover, if employees can request to work from home on a regular basis
- how far in advance requests should be made
- how ad-hoc working from home requests should be made, if they’re permitted
Response to working from home applications

This section deals with how the employer will handle working from home requests. It sets out timeframes for responses and the appeals process. It also specifies certain terms that will be included in any agreement made between the employer and an employee for working from home arrangements (eg that the employee should still attend the work premises when required for, for example, important meetings).

Hours of work

The hours that employees are expected to work when working from home are set out here. If they’re not expected to work full regular hours, the core hours that they should work are specified. Procedures for altering these arrangements are included.

Communicating with your line manager

Requirements related to employees’ responsibility to keep in contact with managers whilst working from home are set out here.

Equipment and materials

This section explains whether the employer or their employees are responsible for providing any equipment that employees require to work from home. In either case, it explains the responsibilities relating to this. For example, if the employer provides equipment, they will still own it and the employee is responsible for any damage to it beyond normal wear and tear.

Expenses

If the employer covers any employee expenses associated with home working (eg additional internet tariffs), this is specified here.

Security

This section outlines employees’ responsibilities related to ensuring the safety of the employer’s information and data when working from home. For example, they must lock their computer when unattended and must abide by any relevant policies the employer has in place.

Health and safety

This section primarily sets out things that employees should do when working from home, to protect their own health and safety and to help the employer abide by their health and safety duties. For example, employees should take breaks and abide by other preventative measures related to display screen equipment (DSE), and should follow the employer’s health and safety instructions and policies.

Insurance

This section explains that employees should check that their insurance cover will apply whilst they are working from home. Further, it sets out whether the employer will cover any additional premiums and whether employees are required to have public liability insurance.

Rental or mortgage arrangements

This section includes a statement that employees working from home understand that doing so may affect their lease or mortgage. This acknowledgement is intended to be included in any agreement an employee makes to work from home. Responsibility for making any checks and arrangements relevant to this is also placed on employees.

Termination of working from home arrangements

This section explains how working from home arrangements may be ended. For example, by the employer giving a specified period of notice. If there are any situations in which arrangements will be terminated immediately (eg if an employee receives an unsatisfactory appraisal), these will be noted here.

If you want your Working From Home Policy to include further or more detailed provisions, you can edit your document. However, if you do this, you may want a lawyer to review the document for you (or to make the changes for you) to make sure that your modified Working From Home Policy complies with all relevant laws and meets your specific needs. Use Rocket Lawyer’s Ask a lawyer service for assistance.
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Legal tips for employers
Make sure you comply with health and safety laws when employees are working from home

Employers are subject to serious and comprehensive health and safety obligations. Most fundamentally, they must always take reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

This obligation continues to apply to employees when they’re working from home, and additional risks associated with home working must be taken into account. For example, the risk of somebody being injured whilst alone, or the risks that working remotely and alone can pose to mental health.

To help your business comply with its obligations, make sure you have a Health and safety policy in place, conduct necessary risk assessments, and ensure you’re aware of your other obligations. For more information, read Health and safety and Employer health and safety responsibilities for staff working from home. You should also consider making a Lone working policy.

Consider having other relevant policies in place

Allowing working from home is only one of the ways that an employer can make their workplace forward-thinking, considerate and pragmatic. You could also create other workplace policies, for example:
- a Flexible working policy - to explain how employees can request flexible working arrangements on a formal (ie statutory) basis or informally
- a Working time directive opt out letter - to help workers work more hours across multiple jobs, if they desire
For information about more policies you may want to put in place as an employer, read HR policies and procedures.

Understand when to seek advice from a lawyer

In some circumstances, it’s good practice to Ask a lawyer for advice to ensure that you’re complying with the law and that you are well protected from risks. You should consider asking for advice if:
- this Policy document doesn't meet your needs or cover what you want
- employees don't agree with the Working From Home Policy
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Working From Home Policy FAQs

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What is included in a Working From Home Policy?
This Working From Home Policy template covers:
- regular and ad-hoc working from home
- how working from home arrangements can be requested
- employees’ hours of work
- equipment and materials
- expenses
- security
- health and safety obligations
- insurance
- ending working from home arrangements
Why do I need a Working From Home Policy?

Although there’s no legal requirement to have one, putting in place a Working From Home Policy ensures that your employees are informed about their rights and obligations regarding working from home (either on a regular or an ad-hoc basis). It helps them to understand the processes for making working from home requests and how such requests will be handled.

Having a Working From Home Policy also shows that your business considers your employees’ specific and personal needs and that it is committed to offering staff a good work-life balance.
What are regular and ad-hoc working from home?

Regular working from home generally follows a set pattern, for example, where employees regularly work from home on certain days (eg Tuesdays).

Ad-hoc working from home is working from home where there is no set pattern and the days worked from home are irregular. This is typically used where working from home is necessary for an employee to, for example, oversee repair works or accept deliveries at their home.
Do employees have to work their regular hours while working from home?

Employees that are working from home can either work their regular hours or they may work flexible hours. Flexible hours can allow employees to adapt their work commitments to other responsibilities, for example, childcare. When employees work flexible hours, you should specify any core hours they should be working and available for.
What are employers’ health and safety responsibilities when employees are working from home?

Employers have the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as for any other workers. This applies regardless of whether employees are working from home on a temporary, ad-hoc, or long-term basis.

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires an employer to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all of its employees, including employees who work from home.

For more information, read Health and safety, Employer health and safety responsibilities for staff working from home and Employer first aid obligations for employees working from home. You should also make a Health and safety policy if you do not already have one.
What are some of an employer’s specific health and safety obligations?
Employers should be aware of their specific obligations to employees, including health and safety obligations to home workers. Most notably:
- encouraging employees to liaise with their line managers to ensure their workstations are appropriate and that they are working in a safe manner
- reminding employees to take responsibility for their own health and safety and that of anyone else in the home who is affected by their work
- requiring employees to notify their line managers if they feel any discomfort due to working from home (eg back pain), or if they feel that there are any work-related health and safety hazards. Line managers should then be instructed to escalate matters if necessary, so that an appropriate party can look into what actions can be taken to resolve the issues
- informing employees of the steps they can take to achieve a comfortable posture while working from home on display screen equipment (DSE)
- providing guidelines about safe working practices to help prevent accidents and injuries, including musculoskeletal injuries
- reminding employees to follow the usual reporting procedures, for example, for any work-related accidents that occur in their homes and reporting sickness
Do I need to provide my employees with equipment?

It may not be possible to provide everyone with the ideal equipment for working from home, although employers should provide equipment where this is required by employees with a disability. You should take each request on a case-by-case basis.
Do employees that are working from home need insurance?

Employees who are working from home should be aware that this may affect their home and contents insurance. They should check with their home and contents insurance provider to ensure that the appropriate insurance coverage is in place.

Where the type of homeworking carried out by the employee requires visitors to their house for purposes related to the business, you may consider asking them to take out public liability insurance. Public liability insurance covers the costs of compensating members of the public for any death, injury, or damage to their property that occurs because of your or your employees’ negligence. While not compulsory, public liability cover protects the employee from loss or damage resulting from claims made by anyone who visits their home in connection with the business. It’s a good idea to check whether your business’ own public liability insurance covers home working situations too, so that you’re covered if the business is found to be responsible following these sorts of legal cases. For more information, read Business insurance.

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Complete your Working From Home Policy with our Make it Legal™ checklist

Make your document

Create your document by following Rocket Lawyer’s step by step interview process. If you need to edit your answers after creating your document, you can return to the interview to do so. Get started now!
Check that your Policy is suitable

Read the document to make sure it meets your business’ needs and that you’ve provided all of the necessary information. Remember that, if you have any questions, you can Ask a lawyer for advice.
Publish your Policy

Make the Working From Home Policy available to employees by, for example, including it in induction packs and putting it on a staff intranet site.
Store

A copy of your Working From Home Policy will be stored automatically in your Rocket Lawyer account ‘Dashboard’. You should also download and securely store a copy of your Policy for your records.
Important details
- Keep records of any amendments made to your Policy. If you amend your Working From Home Policy after publishing it, store a copy of your new version and keep a dated copy of each previous version of your Policy that has been in force. Maintain a record of when each version was introduced and how it was made available to your employees.
- The Working From Home Policy is not a contract and does not need to be signed or agreed to by your staff. You can ask staff members to sign an acknowledgement to show that they received it, but it’s not legally required.

What we'll cover

What is a Working From Home Policy?

When should I use a Working From Home Policy?

WORKING FROM HOME POLICY

Statement and Purpose of Policy

What Does This Policy Cover?

Requests to Work From Home

Response to Working From Home Applications

Hours of Work

Communicating With Your Line Manager

Equipment and Materials

Expenses

Security

Health and Safety

Insurance

Rental or Mortgage Arrangements

Termination of Working From Home Arrangement

Attribution

About Working From Home Policies

Learn more about making your Working From Home Policy

How to make a Working From Home Policy

Common terms in a Working From Home Policy

Legal tips for employers

Working From Home Policy FAQs

What is included in a Working From Home Policy?

Why do I need a Working From Home Policy?

What are regular and ad-hoc working from home?

Do employees have to work their regular hours while working from home?

What are employers’ health and safety responsibilities when employees are working from home?

What are some of an employer’s specific health and safety obligations?

Do I need to provide my employees with equipment?

Do employees that are working from home need insurance?

Our quality guarantee

Need help? No problem!

Working From Home Policy checklist

Complete your Working From Home Policy with our Make it Legal™ checklist

Make your document

Check that your Policy is suitable

Publish your Policy

Store

Important details

Build your document

Save now, finish later

Download, print & share

Related documents

Rocket Lawyer members who started a Working From Home Policy also made:

Temporary Working From Home Policy

Flexible Working Policy

Lone Working Policy

Equal Opportunities Policy

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Legal sources

This Working From Home Policy is governed by the laws of England, Wales and Scotland. Find some of the key sources and laws relevant to your Working From Home Policy below: