Schools have closed, non-essential businesses have been shut down and as of last week Boris Johnson has issued a nationwide lockdown which is enforceable by law.
As stated in his public announcement all businesses not deemed essential have been told to shut to help tackle the Coronavirus pandemic.
Can you expect your employees to work from home?
If they can do their role from home and the employer can still offer them work, then work can be continued as normal. Which means their usual rate of pay should also stay the same.
But what about those employees who are having to look after children at home?
If working from home is an option, then the employee must comply to this as best they can. If business is prevented because of having to care for small children, then it may not be a suitable option.
But this should be assessed very carefully. Employers can always offer/suggest flexible working hours where possible to suit the employee’s needs. Just because an employee is caring for their children does not mean that it will make them unable to work!
So, what can parents do to make homeworking more effective?
- Parents should try to schedule their working hours around when their children are least active (i.e. naptime, bedtime, or quiet playtime)
- When on conference calls or phone calls just give the person you are talking to a heads up that you are caring for your children, in case they become disruptive
- Have a space for working that separates home from work life. This will make it easier to transition between the two
- Create a space for your children in your working area so that they don’t feel left out or lonely
- Make sure that you communicate with your children by making them aware that you do have to concentrate on your work. Try to implement a do not disturb rule (except for emergencies) but make sure you still reassure them that you are there for them
- Technology is a great tool for both entertainment and educational purposes. So use it!
- Set realistic and achievable goals every day. Big tasks might not be feasible while managing small children, so they may have to wait