Whether you work full time from home, or you are in a hybrid role, there are some essential things you should do to ensure you remain healthy and safe when working from home.
Here's a quick guide to keeping yourself safe at home.
First things first, read your employer’s home working guidance.
If you’re working at home you need to have access to safe working conditions, just as you would if you were working in an office location.
You need privacy so that conversations you have either with customers or colleagues can't be overheard, and it needs to be distraction free too.
You'll need the right equipment, and a desk that's setup to care for your posture. You'll also want plenty of natural light, but consider glare and the use of blinds or curtains to help you manage it.
For those working at home on a long-term basis, the risks associated with using display screen equipment (DSE) must be controlled. This includes undertaking a home workstation assessment.
Hare are some simple steps you can take to reduce the risks from display screen work:
If you’re working remotely, it’s important you have a clear understanding of what work you’re expected to carry out, especially if this differs from your usual kind of duties.
If you’re sharing a house with other homeworkers, try to reasonably agree who is working where to try and avoid as much distraction as possible.
It’s also important you still get dressed for the day. This may mean you're more casual than attending an office, but getting changed out of your pyjamas will help you to get your head in the right space for work. This in turn will help you to focus.
It can be harder to stick to set hours when working from home and you don't have the same visual cues such as people getting their coats on to leave at the end of the day.
If you struggle to finish up, set a reminder in your calendar, or use the Virtual Commute function in Teams to help you wrap up for the day.
Working from home requires good habits, so create and maintain a routine. Don't be tempted to work excessive hours. It’s important not to burnout and to maintain a positive work-life balance.
Remember to take regular breaks and get up and move around when you can.
Working at home for long periods of time can become lonely. And being away from managers and colleagues can make it difficult to get proper support. That’s why it’s important you stay connected and keep in touch with co-workers as much as possible.
Many of us are used to using Teams to chat and video call with colleagues, but make sure you're keeping regular contact one way or another.
Especially if you're finding home working difficult, talk to your line manager and consider alternative ways of working like the hybrid approach if you need to the structure of an office environment.