Work from home employees and worker safety

Perhaps the most important thing to note from our Member Expo presentation is this: employers are responsible for the safety of their work from home employees during work hours.

While not all inclusive, here are some things employers should keep in mind if you have work from home employees.

1. Ensure your policies explain how hybrid/remote work is addressed in your entity
   This includes what is expected of employees, what time they should be working, and what equipment they are required to have. As an example, AWC requires employees to have a separate, dedicated workstation; something other than the kitchen table. What materials will you provide to your employees, and what do you expect them to provide themselves?
2. Add an ergonomic policy for WFH employees
   Working from the couch or other compromising position can lead to musculoskeletal issues down the road. And these issues become the employers responsibility.
3. Outline acceptable and unacceptable tools for WFH employees in your WFH policy
   Here are some good items to include:

Acceptable:

• Multi-point adjustable ergonomic chair
• Sit-to-stand desk
• Monitors (preferably more than one)
• External keyboard & mouse
• Headset (optional if you prefer better sound quality for meetings)

Unacceptable:

• Under-the-desk treadmills
• Non-adjustable chairs
• Balance boards
4. Add a WFH policy revision timeline to help with accountability
   AWC recommends reviewing the policy annually at the same time every year to ensure that changes are made accordingly.