With a significant proportion of the population again placed under COVID-19 restrictions, Comcare has reissued its guidance for employers and workers about the need to manage risks for home-based work.
In a statement, Comcare said health and safety obligations applied to home-based work just as much as in the workplace.
“A home workplace should meet the same requirements as any usual place of work,” Comcare said.
It said work-from home routines should be established, including a daily check-in which could be delivered by email, SMS or instant message.
“In addition, daily team meetings will foster team collaboration, preferably at the start of the day which can assist home-based employees to transition from ‘at home’ mode to ‘at work’ mode,” Comcare said.
“It is also important to consider team members’ individual requirements — caring responsibilities and part-time arrangements.”
Comcare said managers should listen to employees’ anxieties and offer encouragement and support tools — “get the balance right; if your team members work more independently from one another, a daily one-on-one and a less frequent team meeting may be more appropriate”.
“Video-conferencing is particularly useful for complex or sensitive discussions, as it feels more personal than audio or written communication,” it said.
“If deadlines are approaching have a ‘how’s it going?’ call well before the deadline, so you can spot any potential delays,” Comcare said.
The three-page initial guide can be accessed at his PS News link.
