Homeworker policy / benefits

[Blown2CV]

I joined my current employer in December, as the first designated home worker. That is, my place of work in My contract is my own house. They’ve not really understood the needs of homeworkers however and they don’t really have differentiated policy or benefits for office versus home workers. Can you guys can give as to what is reasonable here? What things might you expect the employer to pay for and what benefits might be the right things to offer? Thanks

[rog007]

As you joined in the knowledge that you’d be a home worker, the extent of their liability may just be around your health and well-being (as it relates to you providing a work set up that doesn’t impact upon your health) and information governance as it relates to how you manage data.

Insurance implications are usually for you to sort.

https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2017/06/...

[edc]

I would not expect and difference in benefits for items such as pension, healthcare etc. There will be obligations under H&S for risk assessment and provision of equipment therein.

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Blown2CV said:

I joined my current employer in December, as the first designated home worker. That is, my place of work in My contract is my own house. They’ve not really understood the needs of homeworkers however and they don’t really have differentiated policy or benefits for office versus home workers. Can you guys can give as to what is reasonable here? What things might you expect the employer to pay for and what benefits might be the right things to offer? Thanks

Possibly an allowance for office furniture (and the usual H&S assessments) but nothing more. You should be entitled to the £26pcm WFH allowance.

What "needs" have they not understood?

[iphonedyou]

Blown2CV said:

I joined my current employer in December, as the first designated home worker. That is, my place of work in My contract is my own house. They’ve not really understood the needs of homeworkers however and they don’t really have differentiated policy or benefits for office versus home workers. Can you guys can give as to what is reasonable here? What things might you expect the employer to pay for and what benefits might be the right things to offer? Thanks

We do a risk assessment and provide furniture - but then we do that for the office staff. Homeworkers get the same private medical, healthplan, pension, holidays, car options as office staff.

So basically, I don't think you're entitled to anything. What benefits are you expecting?

[Scabutz]

My wife was a designated home worker before covid. There were allowances for broadband and other things. Trouble was you had to have their broadband, and the red tape made it not worth it.

Thats about as much I would expect an employer to do for a homeworker. Not least working from home in the first place is a massive benefit.

[craigjm]

If youre thinking you should get your broadband paid, extra electricity paid and extra heating paid etc then forget it. Ive been based from home for years and the major "benefit" is no commuting costs

[cavey76]

conversely i have worked in technology sales, before that project management and and have had my broadband and mobile covered to various degrees over the last 6-7 years, 3 different employers.

When i was with a huge blue chip US co (Cisco) it also included access to technology kit for home working, monitors, router, screens, keyboards, mice etc. I never needed a chair as i had my own but others got them through a sensible remote work/H&S attitude that they had

[Pinkie15]

Largely what others have said; I’d expect desk & chair, computer, mouse, keyboard & monitor, maybe company mobile. Printer only if a job requirement to regularly print in good definition/large format, otherwise a reasonable expectation you’d already have your own basic printer/scanner.

Compensation & benefits no different to office based staff.

Wouldn’t expect any contribution to internet, electricity, heating, etc. Though would expect them to inform/remind you that you can claim a wfh allowance from HMRC.

Home insurance; only public liability contribution from them if you’ll have regular ‘normal’ business visitors coming to your home.

[jonwm]

Old place were good with the home working pre Covid as well as during Covid.

Pre Covid I had screen printer dock and hp instant ink subscription. Could claim 26 a month wfh allowance through expenses and could order stationary on my company card and any trip even to the office was classed as business.

Current company have launched a hybrid working policy and it's basically if you work from home don't expect us to pay for anything as you are saving dollar by not commuting, if we decided to lend you some equipment it needs to be insured too!!

Different company's have different approaches.

Pre Covid working from home was like a little club, it's been ruined

[Roaringopenfire]

You can claim the home working HMRC allowance. My company did an online assessment and provided a large monitor and headset as a result. I bought my own Herman Miller chair - a fine investment as you'll never get back pain - and a decent desk.

[rog007]

Roaringopenfire said:

You can claim the home working HMRC allowance. My company did an online assessment and provided a large monitor and headset as a result. I bought my own Herman Miller chair - a fine investment as you'll never get back pain - and a decent desk.

‘You cannot claim tax relief if you choose to work from home’, as the OP has done.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/workin...

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rog007 said:

Roaringopenfire said:

You can claim the home working HMRC allowance. My company did an online assessment and provided a large monitor and headset as a result. I bought my own Herman Miller chair - a fine investment as you'll never get back pain - and a decent desk.

‘You cannot claim tax relief if you choose to work from home’, as the OP has done.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/workin...

The OP is a "designated home worker" . My understanding of that his that both he and his Employer have formally agreed that his base is his home (and it should say so in his contract) Ergo his employer should pay him the £26pcm or he can claim tax relief on the £26pcm from HMRC.

Your link relates to people who have a nominated office but choose to work from home.

[Blown2CV]

sounds like the conclusion from all of this is that some employers feel that it's in their interest to incentivise flexibility, and some do not. Maybe it depends how competitive your industry in terms of skill shortage. It's also apparent that some office based workers have been helped out so much by their employers in working from home during COVID, that they now don't see there is any difference between home based and any other type of worker. Except, you'll be going to a hybrid working model and I won't.

I honestly was quite surprised to see the negativity in some of these posts - it's not like i want my employer to pay my rent or for an expensive refurb. Why would anyone assume that... what sort of chip-carrying does your shoulder do? People post millions of pounds worth of watches, car collection or other wealth on here, yet i post about the concept of maybe getting 50% of my broadband paid or whatever and people act like i am an entitled prick to be hated by all. I'll probably just speak to my accountant about it and do it that way rather than via the employer. Thanks to those who understood and offered a reasonable comment.

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Blown2CV said:

sounds like the conclusion from all of this is that some employers feel that it's in their interest to incentivise flexibility, and some do not. Maybe it depends how competitive your industry in terms of skill shortage. It's also apparent that some office based workers have been helped out so much by their employers in working from home during COVID, that they now don't see there is any difference between home based and any other type of worker. Except, you'll be going to a hybrid working model and I won't.

I honestly was quite surprised to see the negativity in some of these posts - it's not like i want my employer to pay my rent or for an expensive refurb. Why would anyone assume that... what sort of chip-carrying does your shoulder do? People post millions of pounds worth of watches, car collection or other wealth on here, yet i post about the concept of maybe getting 50% of my broadband paid or whatever and people act like i am an entitled prick to be hated by all. I'll probably just speak to my accountant about it and do it that way rather than via the employer. Thanks to those who understood and offered a reasonable comment.

To be fair you never really clarified WHAT benefits you were expecting. Wanting a contribution towards Broadband is perfectly understandable (however I assume it's only the internet aspect and not the TV/Phone/Bundle arrangement).

So the question still stands - apart from contribution towards broadband what else are you expecting? I know some of our staff were expecting a contribution towards their heating/lighting costs. One also mentioned refreshment allowance as we used to provide free fruit/drinks/cakes at work. they were given short shrift. A lot of these people are saving between £5k and £10k on commuting costs but still feeling hard done by.

[mw88]

Countdown said:

I know some of our staff were expecting a contribution towards their heating/lighting costs. One also mentioned refreshment allowance as we used to provide free fruit/drinks/cakes at work. they were given short shrift. A lot of these people are saving between £5k and £10k on commuting costs but still feeling hard done by.

Not a dig at the OP, but this sort of stuff genuinely amazes me.

My car hasn't even done 5k miles since March last year, usually it would be ~20,000 - At less than 30mpg that's £4.5k in fuel alone. Not replacing tyres, brake pads etc

I'm not spending £6 on lunch each day, and maybe £2-3 on breakfast twice/three times a week.

I'm probably spending a little more on food/drink, and electric/gas is probably <£10 extra a month but it's nothing compared to what I'm saving by not commuting.

[Starfighter]

My company pays a small allowance to cover the running of the office. I use this to cover stationery needs etc. They also paid for my desk and an A3 multifunction printer. I also pilfered monitors and a headset as we were closing the office. I already had 100mbps broadband and work use did not need an upgrade. The on cost of heat, light and power is offset by the commuting savings.

I also had to do a workplace audit for ergonomics etc and also have my kit checked out by an electrician for PAT at their cost.

The company included mental health in the workplace assessment. Despite not being able to cover the dog costs as being for support I did get an agreement that the small group in the area can get together once a month at a coffee shop to bh and whine. That costs gets picked up by HR.

Overall, I think I did OK from the office closure.

[Jasandjules]

Blown2CV said:

I joined my current employer in December, as the first designated home worker. That is, my place of work in My contract is my own house. They’ve not really understood the needs of homeworkers however and they don’t really have differentiated policy or benefits for office versus home workers. Can you guys can give as to what is reasonable here? What things might you expect the employer to pay for and what benefits might be the right things to offer? Thanks

Well, what does the contract that you agreed to say in terms of benefits?

Bear in mind you do not have a commute to pay for nor the time costs of the same. That to me is worth a fortune, maybe that is just me...