Remote working has been steadily growing over the last decade. Forecasts from 2019 showed that remote working would become mainstream by the end of the 2020s decade. However, the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent control measures has changed remote working. Organizations and companies must shift their operations to a remote working structure.
Remote working comes with many rewards, such as a positive life/work balance, reduced commuting, and increased flexibility. Nevertheless, people rarely think about the well-being and safety of the remote workforce. Each remote worker has the right to equal treatment. They should not be discriminated against or treated differently by those working from the office.
The remote working environment is not very clear in the US. Generally, employers have the responsibility of enhancing the safety and health of all their workers.
The human resource department is facing unprecedented challenges. They are required to measure the risk factors of people who are not working from an office. This may be difficult, but it’s not impossible. Some HR managers have already developed protocols for evaluating the safety and health of remote employees.
Home Risk Assessment
HR managers need defined protocols when they are evaluating employees. If that assessment is conducted on remote workers, it is called a home risk assessment. The objective of any home risk assessment is to identify any challenges facing remote employees.
Human Resource Roles
HR leadership is a key component of any organization, especially the employees. Their work connects employees with employers. One major aspect of their work is to conduct a home risk assessment.
Staff within the HR department must create rules and regulations for the entire workforce. Moreover, they must ensure the confidentiality of the results of the assessment. Similarly, it is the responsibility of the HR department to communicate these results to all employees. It is believed that such communication will increase employees’ morale and trust.
The HR department needs to be aware of several things hindering remote working. If the department discovers any such factors, it must tackle and solve them. Therefore, the HR department must create a safety framework for all employees.
The framework will include things such as:
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The remote workers should use workstations with comfortable lighting, enough ventilation, and safety features.
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They should also use equipment consuming minimum energy.
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Any workstation should be near essential amenities so that the employee can reach it without struggling. Moreover, computer monitors should have the right positioning to prevent eye strain and other eye damages.
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The sitting posture should be consistent with anti-fatigue practices.
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The access and storage of items within the home office must be seamless. In particular, it should protect the employee from physical injuries.
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The HR team should survey the surrounding area for any potential risks. During the survey, they will be on the lookout for things such as loose wires and falling objects.
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Electric shock accidents increase when people work from home. The home assessment report must list all the electrical appliances, together with their wire connections. Furthermore, the HR apartment must state whether these wires could be dangerous in case the worker touches them.
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Fire risk assessments are a key part of the home risk assessment. You must come up with the fire response program for the home office. The remote workforce should be warned against using flammable things at the home office. Moreover, the house should have at least one emergency fire exit and fire detectors.
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There should be reliable communication channels between the workstation and the main office. Additionally, the HR department must conduct regular mental health assessments.
The Assessment Process
There is no standard way of conducting home risk assessments. Each HR manager will develop their unique method. That method will be influenced by several issues, including employee experience, location, and the number of employees working from home. Nevertheless, some things won’t miss in any assessment process. These things are:
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The remote workers should fill a form. The form will provide critical information to the HR department.
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Use the information gathered to segment your employees. Usually, employees with urgent needs will receive more attention from the department.
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Communication should be carried out on multiple channels. Using video and voice communication protocols is essential because it enables the HR staff to identify any health and safety complications.
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Some HR managers request employees to send short videos of their home office every week. These short videos enable the management to conduct remote assessments. For example, they can identify the position of the monitor.
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Any home risk assessment reports and forms should be filed appropriately. This is to create a paper trail for any future improvement.
Bottom Line
The remote working trend is expected to outlive the coronavirus pandemic. Once organizations and employees recognize the benefits of remote working, they will embrace it vigorously. However, this process will require extensive employee engagement, infrastructure upgrading, and the introduction of many safety protocols. If you need any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
