13 Apr HSE Guidance for Remote Working Employees
With more than half of the workforce on remote work, a lot has to be changed in our long pre-built corporate norms and regulations. When it comes to health, safety and environment rules, or HSE guidance for remote working employees nothing is different. You and your employees are certainly at their safest abode on this earth- Home. Nevertheless, not many homes in India are adapted to accommodate a healthy remote work environment. This is due to our delay in accepting and embracing the remote work culture.
Now that we are left with no other option, corporates across the country are beginning to implement strategies for this new work trend of the era. Gaining the same productivity in remote work is not hard. Corporates must ensure the workplace chosen by their employees are extremely safe and secure by all means.
What can employers do to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for their remote workers?
I have curated a perfect guide. Take a look at this HSE guidance for remote working employees.
Conduct a risk assessment of their work environment
The workplace chosen by your employees plays a vital role in their productivity. Hand them over an online template/form with following details enquiring about their workplace:
- Is your workplace properly ventilated?
- Do you receive sufficient lighting?
- Do you have enough space to accommodate your work essentials?
- Are there any noise distractions that may hinder your focus?
- Any possible hazardous object/material in and around your workspace?
You can ask your employees to fill this form with true information. Alternatively, you can also ask your HR to probe this information through a video/audio call. This way you will get a gross idea about your employees’ work environment and advise them accordingly.
Advice your employees to allocate a calm and comfortable area of their house as the workplace. If possible, tell them to set up a home office or at least a dedicated desk.
Communicate regularly
This is a vital aspect, be it while remote or otherwise. Constant and continuous communication with your employees will make them feel heard. Now that all work remotely, there shouldn’t be any hamper in this crucial part. Make sure to hear their problems and also convey your message and advice on a timely basis.
Generate Work-from-home ergonomic awareness
The much-underrated factor that if left ignored can hamper your employees’ productivity adversely is their posture. Make them aware of some good ergonomic tips so that in the long run they do not face neck, shoulder or back pain. Mandate them to optimize their posture and avoid slouching and leaning. If they have an adjustable chair, well and good. If not then they can use a rolled-up hand towel for some extra lower back support. Correct positioning of the laptop is important. Use books to level the top of the screen to be slightly below their line of sight. Advise them to avoid sitting or standing for too long. Encourage micro-stretching breaks.
Conduct mental wellness webinars
Did you know that the rate of domestic violence and abuses have increased lately? Mental wellness is a burning topic during this lockdown. Humans are not used to be at home without seeing other humans or socializing for this long. There are cases of youngsters going into depression and the elderly becoming even sicker. To a lot of us, home is not a place but a feeling. This may not be the same for all. To some, the home may not be so humane that they found work as their one and only solace to be away from those miseries. Now, with this lockdown, things may have worsened. Try talking to them or conduct webinars to stay sane until this crisis leaves the world. You can empathize and help them with ways to focus on their work.
Establish recreation time
Work-from-home can put extra pressure on your employees, as with lots of distraction, they ought to manage time and be productive. To combat this, some may sit around-the-clock on their laptops trying to finish their targets. In the long run, this can lead to fatigue and loss of interest. As an employer, you can conduct weekly recreation/online activities in teams or even individually. Recreations in isolation and while lockdown may not be similar as it was while they were at the office. But you can find your ways to keep your employees motivated and never fatigued of their work-from-home routine.
Alternatively, advise them to take care of their health by eating well and hydrating properly. Direct them that regular exercises and workout can help in boosting their morale and overall health.
Chetan Patel World wants to remind you that the health and safety of your remote employees may not be your sole responsibility but it is the part of the ecosystem that you are building. So, take valid steps to avoid unnecessary hampering of your productivity.
Chetan Patel
Business Trainer | Life Coach in Surat
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