HR Articles

While allowing employees to work from home has added benefits for both the employee and the employer, there are workers compensation exposures related to at-home workers. As an employer, it is essential that you take a proactive approach to keep your employees safe and avoid potential liabilities.

First, consider which candidates are best suited to work from home. Employees who have been with the company for a period of time long enough to prove their work ethic and trustworthiness are better candidates for at-home work than new employees.

After approving an employee to work from home, assist in setting up their workspace to ensure a safe work area. Be sure to include an ergonomically-correct office arrangement. Once the workspace is set up, it is a good idea to take several photographs for proof that a safe area was established, should a workers compensation claim later arise.

Provide a computer program for tracking time at work and time off. If a workers compensation claim is made, an accurate tracking of the employee’s actual work time will aid in determining if an incident actually occurred during working hours.