Great guide but I want to highlight the employer's responsibility for home-working employees (self-employed would cover this themselves) as your first employee, Hannah, falls into this category.
The employer is still responsible in providing suitable office equipments for the home-worker, i.e. office chairs, desks, lighting and computers. If the home-worker is using their personally-owned equipment for work, the employer is still liable in ensuring the equipment is fit for purpose and get it test/certified for electrical items.
It is up to the employer to ensure the home office is at the same health and safety and data protection standards as they would in the office and yes a H&S risk assessment will have to be carried out.
You may also have to purchase public liability insurance if they receive business visitors into their homes as well.
I'm not trying to put a downer to home-working (I do some myself) but few SMEs realise the true implications of offering home-working until they get a letter from the lawyers demanding compensation for their employees' injury from tripping on some cable they placed themselves in their home office whilst working.
The employer is still responsible in providing suitable office equipments for the home-worker, i.e. office chairs, desks, lighting and computers. If the home-worker is using their personally-owned equipment for work, the employer is still liable in ensuring the equipment is fit for purpose and get it test/certified for electrical items.
It is up to the employer to ensure the home office is at the same health and safety and data protection standards as they would in the office and yes a H&S risk assessment will have to be carried out.
You may also have to purchase public liability insurance if they receive business visitors into their homes as well.
I'm not trying to put a downer to home-working (I do some myself) but few SMEs realise the true implications of offering home-working until they get a letter from the lawyers demanding compensation for their employees' injury from tripping on some cable they placed themselves in their home office whilst working.