S 1.44 Suitable configuration of a home workplace

Initiation responsibility: Supervisor, Personnel/Supervisory Board, Building Services Manager

Implementation responsibility: Building Services, Employee

It is best to use a separate room as the home workplace. At a minimum, though, the home workplace should be separated from the rest of the residence by a lockable door so that the documents and IT systems located there are not located in areas that other residents or visitors have access to. If a visitor drops by unexpectedly, it is then possible to leave the workplace temporarily and protect it against unauthorised access.

The room should be selected taking into account the aspects of ergonomics, security, and health protection.

This means the following must be provided, amongst other things:

• adequate space for furniture and a workstation with a monitor,
• ability to control the room temperature and sufficient ventilation capabilities,
• sufficient sound-proofing to protect against sources of noise,
• sufficient daylight as well as adequate artificial lighting,
• privacy protection for the monitor if it is possible to see the monitor through a window
• avoidance of disruptive glare and reflections on the workstation,
• connections for telephone and electricity.

The IT used for work should be provided by the employer in order to ensure the security policies are followed. This is the only way to ensure, through mandatory work instructions for example, that the IT cannot be used for private purposes.

The same regulations and policies must apply to the design of the home workplace (e.g. setting up a workstation) and the working environment as apply in the organisation. A home workplace must be equipped adequately to perform the corresponding tasks, i.e. not only suitable furniture is required, but also appropriate precautions must be taken such as the use of lockable cabinets, for example.

Employees with a home workplace should be asked regularly if the workplace meets the organisation's health and operational requirements. The organisation is entitled to conduct random checks of the home workplaces after requesting the employees for permission.

Review questions:

• Can the home workplace be separated from the rest of the residence?
• Are adequate working materials and furniture available at the home workplaces?
• Is it possible to protect documents and IT against unauthorised access systems at the home workplace?