2. Who is a homeworker?
[ch 2: page 8]Homeworking is not an option open to all. Shop workers, teachers, factory workers are just some examples of jobs where location is not flexible. Many organisations with a homeworking policy will have some sort of eligibility criteria.
Some jobs could be deemed unsuitable for homeworking without justification, including because a line manager is nervous about not being able to see what people are doing. However, many jobs can be broken down into tasks so that tasks that do not need face-to-face contact could be completed on a homeworking day. Unions reps should negotiate if they feel the eligibility criteria is set unfairly.
It is also important to consider how someone switching to homeworking will affect the rest of their colleagues. Office-based staff should not find themselves with an increased workload as a result, unless it is a short-term measure, such as someone homeworking while they recover from an illness.