An employers’ guide on

1 An employers guide on working from home in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 0 An employers guide on working from home in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 An employers guide on working from home in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 1 Copyright international Labour Organization 2020 First published 2020 This is an open access work distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution international License ( ). Users can reuse, share, adapt and build upon the original work, as detailed in the License. The ILO must be clearly credited as the owner of the original work.

2 The use of the emblem of the ILO is not permitted in connection with users work. Translations In case of a translation of this work, the following disclaimer must be added along with the attribution: This translation was not created by the international Labour office (ILO) and should not be considered an official ILO translation. The ILO is not responsible for the content or accuracy of this translation. Adaptations In case of an adaptation of this work, the following disclaimer must be added along with the attribution: This is an adaptation of an original work by the international Labour office (ILO). Responsibility for the views and opinions expressed in the adaptation rests solely with the author or authors of the adaptation and are not endorsed by the ILO.

3 An employers' guide on working from home in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 Geneva: international Labour office , 2020 ISBN 9789220322536 (web PDF) Also available in French: ISBN 9789220322604 (web PDF) and Spanish: ISBN 9789220322611 (web PDF) The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the international Labour office concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other contributions rests solely with their authors, and publication does not constitute an endorsement by the international Labour office of the opinions expressed in them.

4 Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the international Labour office , and any failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. Information on ILO publications and digital products can be found at: An employers guide on working from home in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 2 How to use this guide This guide has been developed by the [NAME OF EBMO] in collaboration with the international Labour Organization Bureau for Employers Activities (ILO-ACT/EMP) to provide practical guidance to member companies that have implemented working from home protocols for their staff in 2020 as an alternative temporary arrangement during the COVID-19 crisis.

5 Companies have implemented working from home protocols as preventive measures or in response to the order or directive of the Government restricting face-to-face contact. This guide provides recommendations for companies, including the duties and responsibilities of employers and workers, considerations and challenges, and how to address and manage those challenges. It also provides a sample template for companies to enable them to develop a bespoke working from home policy. This guide makes reference to international labour standards laid down in relevant conventions and recommendations. These standards are internationally negotiated and adopted by governments, employers and workers in the ILO and form the basis for many national labour laws.

6 Acknowledgements Jae-Hee Chang, Maria Machailo-Ellis and Gary Rynhart led the development of this guide from ILO-ACT/EMP. It was reviewed by Samuel Asfaha, Magdalena Bober, Farid Hegazy and Vanessa Phala from ILO-ACT/EMP. Jon Messenger and Valentina Beghini from the ILO s Conditions of Work and Equality Department also provided valuable inputs and comments. Finally, Miaw Tiang Tang drafted this guide . Disclaimer: The responsibility for opinions expressed in this guide rests solely with their authors, and the publication does not constitute an endorsement by the international Labour office of the opinions and guidance expressed in them.

7 Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the international Labour office . An employers guide on working from home in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 3 Foreword by the President In only a few months time, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a devastating economic, social and health impact across the globe. Hundreds of thousands of lives have already been lost, and the end of this crisis is not yet in sight. From the outset, [NAME OF EBMO] has been working with our members across the country to assist them in managing the negative economic, social and health implications of the COVID-19 crisis.

8 [NAME OF EBMO] will continue to provide support throughout this crisis. Our priorities throughout the crisis are to: provide strong leadership to ensure the health and sustainability of the workforce and our communities; represent the interests and needs of business in crisis to Government with innovative and quick action, measures and solutions; support business during this period with relevant information and services as well as opportunities for remote networking and engagement with peers as these alternative arrangements are becoming universal. This guide is the latest example of our commitment to our members.

9 Employers navigate a complex and evolving landscape. In our daily discussions with government representatives, we are prioritizing measures to support business continuity. This is particularly critical for the hospitality, retail and related sectors that have already suffered a very significant demand shock. Difficult decisions are being made each day and people s safety must always come first. We urge our members to implement government measures as speedily and effectively as possible and implement positive action wherever possible. This guide has been designed to help our members respond to a new normal that is changing day by day.

10 Many companies are relying on working from home arrangements for the first time. Some are thriving while others are struggling to adapt. I hope this guide can provide timely assistance. Finally, I would like to thank the international Labour Organization for their assistance in developing this guide . Yours sincerely, President of [NAME OF EBMO] An employers guide on working from home in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 4 Contents Foreword by the President 3 Introduction 5 1. What is working from home? 5 2. How is working from home different from teleworking, telecommuting, or remote working? 5 3. Are all jobs suitable for working from home arrangements?