Home Office - Where the heart is

Now that Omicron has well and truly broken through our borders, we thought it was time to chat a little about good H&S at home. 

As we are told, there will be no more lockdowns on the cards but the reality is, more and more of us will be working within our bubbles at home if our jobs allow. We are already seeing it within our wine industry, where work units are being separated to protect the coming harvest for 2022 and it may be the case that many other sectors follow as we ride this wave out. 

Working from home. 20 years ago the term was nearly unheard of. However, the new norm of life that we find ourselves in, means little makeshift home offices are often a safer and more viable alternative that will help stop workplace transmission. Yes, over the last 2 years we’ve become somewhat used to the term but what do you as an employer need to consider as far as Health and Safety is concerned and how far do your responsibilities extend within the home office? 

The HWSA states that as business owners, you need to be able to prove that you are managing all health and safety risks within your business. This includes the home office. 

Studies show that the three major risks to mental health when working from home are a poor work environment, a lack of social connection and poor work design. 

The following are some tips and tricks on how you can work with your employees to ensure they are coping at home.

Set up a healthy work environment  

Encourage employees to have clear physical and mental boundaries between their personal home life and work life. By setting up a dedicated workspace, they can help to create a mental boundary. This will help the brain shift into ‘home mode’ so that they can enjoy their personal time without feeling like they are still at work. 

Ensure they have all the equipment they need. If possible, supply the same, or similar, equipment, technology, and resources that are used on the business premises. Having the right tools and resources are paramount to the home office. 

Insist on regular break times as if they were on site and help your staff to set limits. Some employees who don’t know when to stop working could be at risk of burning out and becoming less productive.

Build and maintain social connection 

Social connections at work are about more than just tasks and formal meetings. The casual conversations you have with colleagues form a large part of the work experience. It is important when you are working from home to take time to consciously connect with your team and maintain your work relationships. It’s equally as important to ensure staff are getting up to date information as if they were at the office working in the cubicle next door. Monday.com is a great platform for this, ensuring your team's work flow is aligned and operating efficiently. 

Even when we make a deliberate effort to maintain social connections when working from home, it can still sometimes feel like an isolating experience. We all have different social needs, and work in unique home environments. Regularly talk with your team about how they are feeling and any challenges they may be facing. Get their input on changes that need to be made so they can feel more connected. 

Work design

Work design is about the tasks you do, and how and when you do those tasks. Routine is key! Break your day into manageable blocks and think about when you are most productive. If you are more energised in the morning, use this time for more focussed work. Likewise, if you suffer  the dreaded afternoon ‘slump’, collaborative tasks online with your team may energise you. And most importantly, turn off work notifications on your cell phone, or set an out-of-office message so it is clear you are no longer available for the day.

Having great H&S is part of having a great business. We offer a wide range of health and safety consultancy, advisory and support services designed to comply with current health and safety legislation. These include risk assessments, policies, manuals and audits across a range of industries and sectors. 

Need H&S support? Get the 5-star Kowhai Welcome. Check out all the details here