Growth in teleworking increases employers' exposure to legal claims

Health and safety risk experts National Britannia today warned that companies with teleworking staff could face heavy legal costs if they fail to ensure the same standards are applied to off-site staff as to in-house employees.

Provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act apply to all employees, regardless of location, and new Fairness at Work guidelines extend employers' responsibilities to even temporary and part-time staff.

National Britannia expects the ceiling on liability in this area to be lifted and warns that the possibility of a claim - resulting from an accident or simply poor lighting or an inadequate chair - is not one to be taken lightly.

Regulations require employers to carry out risk assessments for the activities handled by teleworkers in order to maintain appropriate H&S standards - just as done in a conventional office setting.