Encourage working from home

It's not a very innovative idea but perhaps workers that don't need to be physically present in their workplace could work from home in the upcoming few months or as long as necessary. Think of large open plan council offices or hot desking where various professionals go on home visits in the community and come back to the office several times a day.

Why the contribution is important

It would enable social distancing and reduce the spread of the virus. Also it would probably be nearly impossible to sanitise/ disinfect the desks/ equipment/ staff toilets in such offices and working from home could reduce the burden on the cleaning services and demand for industrial grade cleaning products.

by slesniewska on May 08, 2020 at 04:50PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.6
Based on: 12 votes

Comments

  • Posted by KatieRedhead May 08, 2020 at 16:59

    This makes a huge amount of sense.

  • Posted by Stevendufc May 08, 2020 at 16:59

    In the short term pretty obviously a good idea, but we can't lose sight of the fact a home is just that (ie not a home and an office). Prior to being furloughed I was working from home and it's quite difficult, and not good on your mental health

  • Posted by mjpgreen May 08, 2020 at 17:01

    Minimise risk to others by keeping out of the way at home if you can

  • Posted by Lhw80 May 08, 2020 at 17:05

    Would be in complete agreement in this, as a person who works in an office where computers and desks are shared and can not maintain even a 1 meter distance I would feel extremely uneasy regarding working in the office at this moment in time and feel that everyone who is working from home at the moment should be continuing this to help reduce the spread

  • Posted by rossb May 08, 2020 at 17:17

    This is so obvious it shouldn't need saying, but it seems it does. We've all noticed the cleaner air, quieter streets (more birdsong) and the use of fossil fuels must be at a level not seen since the 50s. The drop in air pollution is so significant, and so welcome, that now we've seen it's possible we must do all we can to support it after the lockdown ends. Currently companies can offer workers the option of working from home; the law should change to make it a legal right for all workers to work from home or at least 80% of their working week unless it can be shown to be impractical, for reasons of the workthe company carries out, to do so. The cost of equipping workers with laptops and resourcing their IT depts to make it work should not be a reason not to do it. Most of us have broadband now; this must be rolled out everywhere and fibre-optic cable should be laid in every town and city in Scotland. The madness of an entire workforce taking to the streets to sit in their cars in traffic jams must end.

  • Posted by rossb May 08, 2020 at 17:20

    I should add that a mass movement towards working from home should be accompanied by a change in mindset so that home workers are encouraged to meet other home workers in local coffee shops etc for a half hour break each morning or afternoon. The local economy would benefit and we'd all get to know our neighbours!

  • Posted by GHeg May 08, 2020 at 18:43

    Good idea in principle but there’s the isolation side to consider and there’s also an extra cost to working from home, will the government subsidise the extra energy bills

  • Posted by Feeonah May 09, 2020 at 15:11

    We can all work from home but where it can be done, employers should be supporting people to do this.

    I have a family member working from home who had to buy their own screen to use with a tiny work laptop. No monetary recompense given for screen or additional home costs I.e. electricity, heating, phone/broadband

  • Posted by JohnED May 11, 2020 at 21:56

    There should be some form of relief or one of payment to cover the cost born by those working from home. There are costs such as electrical, heating and broadband. Also due to the speed in which it was implemented and the uncertainty for many businesses employees have had to bare costs in setting up home offices.
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