Working From Home

[barry1010]

Hypothetical question. Should a boss/line manager be allowed to visit the employee during working hours without notice?

[Zacs-Master]

As always, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ answer to this. Does it say anything in their contract about home visits (I suspect not)?
Was it to discuss urgent business?
Was a reason given for the call (or the intention to call) such as the WFH person wasn’t contactable?

Many many whys and wherefores.

[THECORBYLOON]

It might be that with so many folk working from home because of COVID, ACAS might have drawn up some guidance on this.

Their number is 0300 123100.

[barry1010]

As I said, it's hypothetical. Many people work from home on a permanent basis irrespective of Covid and I was just wondering if a boss has a right to drop in to their workplace as s/he would the office/the factory floor/site.
Not sure how I'd feel about it if I worked from home for an employer

[THECORBYLOON]

A line manager could visit without notice but since it's a private residence, entry could be refused.

[Zacs-Master]

I appreciate it’s hypothetical but one has to extrapolate the potential whys and where fires in order to give any kind of contextual answer.

‘A line manager could visit without notice’ can they, are you sure? Where’s that come from?

[Hopkirk]

Catch them still in pyjama bottoms.

[Redhelen72]

Does working in one's pj bottoms stop you from doing your job?

[barry1010]

I would have loved to work without interference from the bosses during my working life.

[THECORBYLOON]

https://www.edwardsandcompany.co.uk/blog/1098/can-an-employer-make-unannounced-visits-to-homeworkers

[Redhelen72]

Working from home does not stop your boss keeping tabs on you and nor should it.
My old manager used to receive a report of all sites and keystrokes we had taken

[barry1010]

Interesting post, thanks Corby, but my word, what a lot of errors! If I were her boss I'd be paying a visit to her office

[MissTerious2]

I'm pretty sure I would work in PJ'S if I worked at home. I never sleep in PJ'S. My son has a pretty important job and is a company director and hates formal clothes. Always works in T-shirt and jeans unless meeting a client. People work better if they are comfortable.

I also think school uniforms should be more comfortable, but that's a different subject

[Zacs-Master]

The link you provided is specific to one company, TCL.

[Meaghan27]

Why would a line manager need or want to visit a worker at home? The people I know that work from home have meetings at least once a day through Zoom, and must log off for their breaks and lunch hours, which they can take when they want .

[barry1010]

Not everyone who works from home is using a computer.

[THECORBYLOON]

"The link you provided is specific to one company, TCL."

What makes you say that?

[MissTerious2]

Meaghan. Very true. My son sticks to a rigid routine and all works meetings are conducted on line. I would never phone him or visit him on a working day. He has told me that in an emergency I can text though. I have been given my orders.

[youngmafbog]

The link TCL gave is from a blog of a brief specialising in employment law by the looks of it, and is general.

[youngmafbog]

One thing I have found odd is that companies dont visit the home site for H&S reasons. I remember years ago if you wanted to work from home the Bank I worked for insisted on viewing your workspace/chair etc to ensure it was ok (and I expect so they didnt get sued). That seems to have gone out the window so I wonder if all those people who 'forced' the company to buy them a special expensive chair have bought their own? I suspect not.

Personally I have two proper office setups with professional desks and chairs, both with 3 screens 150mb internet and secure. But I know many dont so maybe companies should be checking. Working from a sofa is not good.

[Meaghan27]

Ha Ha MissTerious, my son did his year in industry working from home in his bedroom last year and I had to ask him if it was ok before vacuuming