Office worker teleworking policy
Office Teleworking – when this applies
PCI Pal recognises that the work undertaken by some of its staff may be carried out more easily in a quiet location without disruption and recognises that (due to traffic or weather concerns) travel to and from the office may require an impractical amount of time and effort compared to a day’s work.
Such impromptu Teleworking is covered under this policy, but for any long-term or regular Teleworking, a formal arrangement (such as Home Working) would need to be approved by PCI Pal.
Unless an Office Worker and PCI Pal contractually agree to convert an Office Worker into a Home Worker, the office base for these Office staff will remain 7 Gamma Terrace, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9FF or that specified in their contract of employment.
PCI Pal also recognises that certain injuries may prevent Office Workers from making their normal commutes whilst not preventing them from working on a laptop.
Whilst Teleworking may be an appropriate solution for an Office Worker in the case of traffic or weather problem, car breakdown, or significant but not incapacitating injury, Teleworking is not to be used as a method of taking ‘unofficial’ sick leave. Except as approved by Line Managers in writing with a sound business reason for doing so (such as performing acceptable light duties), if a member of staff is sufficiently ill or incapacitated as to be unable to work, they are not to ‘work from home’ but instead are to take sick leave. Failure to do so may be considered abuse of the system.
Approval
All Office Workers should request permission to work from home from their Line Managers on each occasion. Permission may be given verbally, though it is the Line Managers responsibility to confirm such permission in writing (this can be by email).
Line Managers should monitor the working patterns of members of Office Workers who work from home on a frequent basis. If there are regular patterns of working from home, the Line Manager and member of staff should discuss the possibility of making more formal Home Working arrangements.
Expectations
Whilst permission to work from home for a day (even requested on the day itself) should not be unreasonably refused, the Office Worker should not expect or rely on being granted leave to work from home. If this is refused, the Office Worker is expected to turn up on time and perform their role as appropriate.
PCI Pal is not responsible for any detriment or loss the Office Worker or others suffer as a result of the Office Worker being required to work as per their contracted arrangement (i.e. paying for care arrangements for dependants, cancelling appointments).
PCI Pal will endeavour to give at least 24 hours’ notice prior to cancelling any pre-arranged leave to work from home, but this cannot be guaranteed and informal leave to work from home is not subject to the same protection as Holiday leave.
For an Office Worker, working from home will only be possible if the member of staff’s absence from the workplace on that particular day will not create problems for other staff. Upon requesting permission to work from home, Office Workers must be aware of their work and calendar obligations for that day and must confirm there is no pressing need for them to attend the office. Inappropriately certifying their fitness to work from home may be considered abuse of the system.
Office Workers are expected to abide by and be familiar with the terms of this policy and any other requirements that may impact upon them prior to working from home. Lack of familiarity is not an acceptable excuse for any breach of these terms and requirements.
