Forbes publishes groundbreaking guide to homeworking and the law

A recent survey by The Times found three-quarters of Britain’s biggest employers are looking at a permanent shift to flexible working. As businesses look to make permanent the emergency changes they introduced because of lockdown, Forbes Solicitors launches a book to address the practical considerations employers need to make to succeed in the new world of work.  

Authored by Daniel Milnes, Bethany Paliga and James Barron from the Information Law and the Employment teams at Forbes Solicitors, COVID-19 – Homeworking and The Law – The Essential Guide to Employment and GDPR Issues, explains how various aspects of UK law have been affected by the pandemic. 

Daniel Milnes, author and governance and information law partner at Forbes Solicitors, said: “Earlier this year, organisations changed the way they and their employees worked. As businesses emerge from lockdown and start to give serious consideration to how they will reinvent themselves so they’re resilient for the future, homeworking and flexible or agile working is a significant part of this for many. If organisations understand the applicable law and any relevant risks, homeworking can be safer and as effective as a traditional office set-up.”  

Bethany Paliga, information solicitor and accredited data protection practitioner added: “Considerations need to be made around data security and data protection in a home environment, including how compliance with GDPR is demonstrated. Our book takes a practical approach to cover checklists for employers to ensure they’re compliant as they’re vicariously liable for employees. There are also issues which arise from video conferencing and remote management and monitoring of home working, which the book helps employers to navigate.” 

Forbes Solicitors has advised a wide range of public and private sector organisations about law and practice affecting lone working and homeworking before and during the pandemic. With insights from an employment and information law perspective, the book allows employers to take a holistic view of its approach to working from home and the policies and contract updates required.  

James Barron, associate solicitor at Forbes Solicitors and author added: “Flexible working isn’t a new concept, but it has never been more prolific and as such has risen to the top of the agenda for many business and HR leaders. Organisations need to consider how they deal with requests and in the book, we set out some practical guidance around the supervision and management of homeworkers, how homeworking interacts with other elements of employment law and the terms already set out in your employment contracts and HR policies. By establishing clarity and setting out expectations businesses can avoid potential issues down the line.”

To purchase the book COVID-19 – Homeworking and The Law – The Essential Guide to Employment and GDPR Issues, please visit:  

http://www.lawbriefpublishing.com/product/covid-19andhomeworkinglaw/