Data protection

The employer is responsible for the protection of data used and must inform the employee of all the organisation’s rules concerning data protection. If the job deals with sensitive data the employee should be provided with a lockable cabinet and a shredder for disposing of material.

The homeworking policy should explain how data will be handled, stored and destroyed.

The risk assessment may advise that the home needs to be made more secure. If this is the case the employer should cover the cost of any work.

The homeworking policy for staff at Gloucestershire Police includes advice on what to do if work is interrupted, the need for a lockable container, no confidential material to be taken home, limitations on photocopying, secure destruction of waste, and phone security.