Above all, they can understand the evidence for flexible working and share this internally within their own organisations, using it as a driver for change. How to assess a job for flexible working potential. Related content Lay-offs and short-time working. You may not want to take annual leave during the COVID-19 restrictions as your travel options are limited. But it looks increasingly as if the situation will not ever go back to how it was: many employees for companies who have sent all staff home are already starting to question why they had to go in to the office in the first place. Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (who found that one-size doesn’t fit all and that flexible working doesn’t automatically mean reducing hours). However, there are now early indications that many employees will wish to continue to undertake some degree of homeworking (or flexible working in general) after the current restrictions have passed. This is not necessarily a quick process and will require consistent effort. What aspects of working remotely do employees wish to retain, and what are they keen to lose? More information on flexible working and employment law can be found in the Q&As. The genie is out of the bottle and it’s not likey to go back in. When a request is agreed, it becomes a permanent change to the employee’s contract of employment. “We understand this is an unprecedented step, but these are unprecedented times,” Twitter’s head of HR, Jennifer Christie, said in a message to staff. Good and bad excuses for missing work when you need to be absent, examples of the best reasons for getting out of work, ... 40% of workers took a fake sick day during 2017, ... so she had to stay home. Care should be taken not to discriminate. Browse and purchase our range of textbooks, toolkits and e-books, Learn about the knowledge and behaviours needed to work in the people profession, Assess yourself against the CIPD Profession Map and view personalised development options, Get an internationally recognised qualification, All you need to know about being a CIPD student as well as access to a wide range of resources, The essential companion for busy HR professionals, Gain insight on issues that matter to HR and L&D, Our profession plays an important role in ensuring work benefits everyone. In these circumstances it may not be helpful to follow normal policies and processes for requesting flexible working. Managers will also need to understand how to manage flexible workers and a mixed team of office based and remote workers, as well as the many potential business and individual benefits of working more flexibly. Short timescales for considering a request. That’s certainly what the industry behind remote work is hoping. In the short term, as lockdown restrictions ease and many employees continue to work from home or during a phased return to the workplace, it is likely that teams will find there is a mix of virtual and physical working. Following communication and feedback, the proposals for change should be set out formally in writing to employees and their explicit agreement for change sought. There are New Rules for Outdoor Exercising During the Coronavirus Lockdown Morgan Fargo. This is a good opportunity to review the benefits which flexible working can offer but the unusual nature of the situation should be borne in mind. Unfortunately, there can be negative stereotypes associated with flexible workers with researc h suggesting that flexible workers are often considered to be less committed, cause increased work for others and are more difficult to manage. Working from home during coronavirus. Homeworking can lead to people working longer hours than they would in the office so consider suitable messaging to counteract this possibility. Help individuals understand that they can say ‘no’ and maintain a schedule that suits them as well as the organisation. UK employment law sets out a number of minimum standards regarding flexible working with which employers must comply, so employers should make sure they’re aware of these when reviewing their flexible working arrangements. Where employees are seeking a permanent flexible working arrangement (or seek one when a temporary change has ended), the organisation’s normal policies and procedures should apply. Many employees may have short to medium term needs for flexible working as a result of the current situation. If an employer requires employees to work from home in response to a health crisis like the COVID-19 outbreak, then it may choose to prohibit employees from working at other remote locations other than home (i.e., locations where they may be at greater risk of being exposed). Where Slack recreates the feeling of turning to a colleague for a quick chat that’s as much personal as professional, Trello is more like your boss walking over to “just check on how you’re doing”. The coronavirus pandemic is slashing jobs by the day. It’s going to take some solidarity with your coworkers. The CIPD has a range of resources and information on flexible working available on the flexible working topic page, including case studies and information on the types of flexible working. Policy changes that support flexible working include: Providing training to people managers on the benefits of flexible working as well as how to manage flexible workers is one of the most effective ways to increase both the quality and quantity of flexible working arrangements. If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) you should get tested. Spikes in usage are most likely to affect people who pay for their internet with bandwidth caps, particularly common in the US and among those who rely on mobile broadband. Slack isn’t alone. In recent months, the coronavirus pandemic has led to a significant amount of the workforce working from home. These could include: Any changes should be mutually agreed, confirmed in writing and have a clear end date. Proposed legislative changes around ‘flex for all’ could result in this requirement being removed. Consider undertaking a listening exercise in order to understand: The information gathered can help organisations reflect on and determine their longer-term strategy for flexible working. A supporting ACAS Code of Practice sets out guidance for employers when responding to a flexible working request. Where an organisation is willing to see this increased demand as an opportunity, they may be able to harness a number of business and employee benefits including increased productivity, workplace inclusion, talent acquisition, employee wellbeing and sustainability. You should also check the latest advice from official sources in your state or territory regarding working from home in response to COVID-19. Ensure that individuals who are required to attend a workplace also have flexible working opportunities (for example, the ability to avoid peak hours). A high level of understanding across the organisation of the benefits of flexible working. COVID-19 at Work: Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities Answers to frequently asked questions about coronavirus in the workplace. Everyone who can work effectively from home should do so, in order to contain the virus Can I work in tier 4? A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises people to work from home if they can during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some employees have reported finding it difficult to switch off and set boundaries between their work and their non-work activities. With an increasing number of companies looking at work from home options amid the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a sudden spike in the demand for laptops. Here’s what they’re doing, and how it could affect their workers. Where agreement is reached, employers may implement the changes: they should keep any new working patterns under review and be prepared to change them as the situation evolves or if Government advice changes. A simple application process that does not require employees to specify why they want to work flexibly. Cloudflare, which provides online infrastructure that underpins a huge swathe of the internet, says it has been tracking the increase. Until the outbreak, most bosses looked at working from home as a chance to skive. We will be living and working with risks related to COVID-19 for many months. Advertising all roles as open to applications for flexible working. Schneider Electric (who gained insight into the importance of the relationship between line managers and their teams in making flexible working successful). Any 5 from 7: Many workplaces (especially offices) operate between Monday and Friday. Organisations, and their HR departments will need to consider how they can create cultures in which flexible working can thrive. This guide will consider how flexible working may be approached in the short and long term, both to support health and safety obligations to employees returning to the traditional workplace, but also to generate potential people benefits and opportunities for organisations following the pandemic. “Millions of people will get the chance to experience days without long commutes, or the harsh inflexibility of not being able to stay close to home when a family member is sick… This might be a chance for a great reset in terms of how we work,” he said. Employers and HR professionals should therefore be prepared for an increase in flexible working requests in the months to come, both as a result of the pandemic and if more information becomes available about legislative changes. The same teams should rotate in order so that they always follow the same individuals. Microsoft has made its cloud “productivity suite” free to small businesses for the next six months, including its Slack competitor, Teams. Annual leave during COVID-19 restrictions You continue to build up your annual leave when you are working from home and working your usual hours. Americans who can work from home during the coronavirus outbreak tend to be wealthier and better educated, exposing economic inequality. At the end of any agreed period, the employee would automatically return to their substantive working pattern unless otherwise agreed. Organisations need to consider the barriers at manager, team and individual levels to help them successfully implement flexible working. The six reasons when you CAN leave your home during lockdown. UK workers might be wondering what their rights are if they're worried about coronavirus Credit: Getty Images - Getty. Managers hold the key to flexible working: they can either be an enabler and supporter, or a barrier to effective implementation. However, current forms of flexibility are very different from typical flexible working approaches: many employees are balancing work with childcare, home-schooling and supporting vulnerable relatives, as well as working from kitchens and living rooms. Pharmaceutical Research Associates offers flexible working in their customer services team, which needs to provide 24/7 support to clients. For example, we have been hosting free consultations for companies adapting to remote work for the first time. Communicate with individuals regularly about altering flexible working when necessary, creating boundaries (to ensure they aren’t working too many hours, are having appropriate breaks and have the resources they need). 1079797. Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus (COVID-19), including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women. Remote working & COVID-19: 5 things companies need to consider before employees work from home By Camilla Winlo 13 March 2020 Top considerations for … Download a range of practice materials to assist in supporting their business and workforce through a global health emergency, Answers to frequently asked questions to offer guidance in responding to the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, Our series of top tips will help you and your team get the most out of homeworking, © Copyright Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development 2021, 151 The Broadway, London SW19 1JQ, UK Incorporated by Royal Charter, Registered Charity no. These websites will help you find remote work. The good news is you can find an array of work-from-home jobs across all … Find out more about: shielding and vulnerable people – including what employees and employers should do if someone's doctor advises them to stay at home; absence from work; Raising an issue. Effective communication to make sure all employees receive key messages, whether they are in the office or working from home. “This is not how I envisioned the distributed work revolution taking hold,” said Matt Mullenweg, chief executive of WordPress and Tumblr owner Automattic. After post Covid-19, you may have to re-engineer your organization to reduce costs among other things. This is likely to continue in the short term and is something which employers should consider carefully. The global work-from-home movement intended to maintain output and efficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic could actually generate a worldwide productivity slump and … Some customer service staff are also able to work from home, through online portals that provide access to internal and customer systems, allowing them to respond to customer needs. Current government advice is that anyone who can work effectively from home should do so. Working from home during coronavirus. As part of the research for the cross-sector insights on enabling flexible working guide, the CIPD looked at flexible working in several organisations. Nearly 43% of full-time American workers say they hope to work from home ... says one of the biggest reasons why employees prefer to work ... Teachers offer homeschooling advice during coronavirus. In some cases this has been compounded by not having a suitable workspace. The key barriers that need addressing are as follows: People professionals should provide support and advice to managers, while encouraging them to offer flexible working options as much as is possible (in line with current government advice). The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. During the coronavirus pandemic, many people who usually work in an office will now be working from home. Employers who wish to introduce changes to ways of working should: The specific personal circumstances of employees should always be taken into account: some employees may be unable to change their working hours for a variety of reasons including childcare or family responsibilities. The call centre is entirely staffed by homeworkers, who control their own flexible work patterns. Coronavirus: The only reasons you can leave your house in new lockdown. Whilst it is currently thought likely that employers will still be able to turn down flexible working requests where there is an operational reason for doing so, this change in legislation will also raise awareness of flexible working in general. Supportive senior leaders including visible role models. Tech firms will benefit, but some companies could find employees don’t want to return to the office, Last modified on Wed 1 Jul 2020 18.15 BST. Any change of approach to flexible working (in the short or long term) may require a review of policy. For example, some employees may work 7am-3pm with others working 10am-6pm. Share flexible working stories from across the business to inspire individuals to try new ways of working. If you are an office worker, in tech, in tele-calling or customer service or if your entire work is on a computer, then sooner or later, your employer will move you to a WFH status. An overview of the relevant employment law relating to flexible working. During the coronavirus outbreak, many companies are suggesting or requiring more employees to work from home. For some people, self-isolating at home is essential under government guidance (such as those who live in a household where another member has displayed symptoms of COVID-19 and those who are quarantining after returning from some countries abroad). The sudden increase in working from home is presenting problems as well as opportunities: on the one hand, startups such as Slack and Zoom and established giants including Google and Microsoft are offering their tools for free, in the hope that people who start using them in a crisis may carry on once normality returns. “For now, we are focused on helping people around the world adapt to remote work with free resources. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there has been lots of talk about how people have reacted to being forced to work from home. Performance judged on outcomes rather than presence and availability. Ensure managers understand that visibility is not the key to performance and that they explore new ways of communicating, delegating and working with their teams to meet targets and deadlines. Automatic consideration of transferring existing flexible working arrangements to internal promotions / job role changes. Tracking these expenses can be challenging, so we have introduced a temporary shortcut method. Holiday and leave. Make up the work on an hour-for-hour basis during the same workweek for non-exempt (hourly paid) employees with supervisory approval. Before the pandemic, only around 5% of the workforce worked mainly from home. June 2020 Update: We’ve put together a Remote Workforce Resource Page open_in_new for remote employees and for those managing a remote team. During this time employers and people professionals may find the insights from the following case studies particularly useful: Tried-and-tested flexible working methods The CIPD is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any action or decision taken as a result of using the guidance. To attend work or ... to be done at home. On the other hand, some systems are already creaking at the edges. Crucial Coronavirus … Large technology firms were some of the first to make the switch to remote working for all their staff, building on pre-existing infrastructure such as office chat groups, remote access to critical tools, and the fact that much knowledge work can be carried out remotely. If you’re not yet working from home but feel like you should be to help with public safety, here’s how to get your boss to reconsider. As coronavirus pandemic restrictions are lifted, many Americans will face physical and mental health challenges -- including fear and anxiety -- as they return to work. Pay close attention to: Help individuals understand what flexible working opportunities are appropriate and available at this time. It can both support the return to the workplace on a practical level, help employees to cope with ongoing issues relating to the pandemic and help to maintain hygiene and social distancing whilst the virus still presents a considerable risk. An assumption that requests will be agreed wherever possible where they employee has a good reason for needing the change. You don’t need to update your insurance, or even tell your insurer that you’re working from home during the outbreak, as it’s not your usual place of work. It will also support the transition to a more flexible future. Ensuring employees continue to take annual leave. Still, technology can only go so far, and working from home is not for everyone. They should also be aware that if they are unable to fulfil this employee demand, this may have an impact on retention or employee engagement. Communicate proposals clearly to all employees, including those currently on furlough leave, setting out as much practical detail as possible and how long any such changes are likely to last. Covid: How far can you travel for exercise during lockdown? Depending on the nature of the changes proposed, employers may wish to seek legal advice on their plans and their organisation’s specific contracts of employment. In addition to regular catch-ups, advise line managers to ask open questions such as ‘are you feeling fulfilled in the work you do?’ and ‘how can I support you better?’ to overcome any barriers or communication problems. Covid-19 could permanently shift working patterns as companies forced to embrace remote working by the pandemic find that their employees do not want to return to the office once the closures are lifted. These are organisational culture, policy and manager training. Advice for employees and employers on working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. And working from home, in many ways, might be the smartest solution for older workers who tend to be more susceptible to severe cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. You must stay at home. However, not everyone has found this transition easy. We understand that due to COVID-19 your working arrangements may have changed. Managers may be unclear about how to ‘measure’ work and output during this time, especially if remote or flexible working is new. Advice on supporting people who are at risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Providing general wellbeing support to all employees. Tomates, a simple and cheap Mac app, helps you to automate those timers – although any similar app will work too, or a simple physical timer like the tomato alarms the method is named after. , peak internet traffic is occurring earlier in the office or working from.... Responding to a more flexible future individuals while observing social distancing and reenter the island that. Follow the same individuals while observing social distancing people with health conditions and pregnant women quarantine, peak traffic... Line manager ’ s what they ’ re doing, and how they tasks. 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