The Australian Financial Review article covers insight on how the traditional workforce has swiftly adapted to a hybrid model and what businesses can do to protect the well-being of their employees by implementing ergonomic home offices.
Adapting for the new workplace reality
Working from home is now the norm as employers face the reality of hybrid workforces, but how companies approach this change is not without its challenges and safety in remote workplaces is set to be a major issue as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most homes don’t provide ideal workspaces. Inadequate desks, seating and lighting make the experience uncomfortable, less productive and unsafe, which can lead to illness or injury and, for employers, workers’ compensation claims.
When employees are less productive, job satisfaction and morale can diminish and often impact other team members, compromising organisational goals.
Law suits over the past 18 months suggest that employers, at worst, can be held liable for accidents at home.
‘‘The boundaries between work and home became blurred for many employees working flexibly from home a long time ago, but now with millions of Australians working from home … it seems that the scope for injuries to be causally linked to employment has become significantly greater, particularly for those employees who do not follow strict or traditional hours of work and work late nights or on weekends to complete work,’’ wrote Colin Biggers & Paisley partner Rose Raniolo last year.
‘‘This means that employers must tread an increasingly fine line between discharging a duty to take reasonable care that the place of work is safe and what may previously have been considered an employee’s right to privacy at home.’’
Inter-governmental body Safe Work Australia says some key considerations for companies around remote worker safety in the home include the surrounding work environment, the work station set-up, work practices and physical activity, and any pre-existing injuries an individual worker may have.
Many companies and institutions have taken a hard line on remote work environments, sometimes even demanding independent home visits to check on employees’ workspace. But the solution lies in a long-term approach that embraces, rather than fears, the hybrid working model and acts to provide a safe workspace in homes just as in the office.
Corporate office settings are designed by industry experts using research-led, tried and tested ergonomic furniture and equipment solutions, and the same principles should apply to the home work setting, according to Peter Schiavello, managing director of workplace specialist Schiavello Group.
‘‘Committing to a professional, long-term strategy to support employees working from home is an opportunity for businesses to pave the way forward as best practice leaders,’’ he says.
‘‘Demonstrating genuine care for the wellbeing of employees will increase staff satisfaction and retention, as well as build a positive company culture, while providing additional benefits and value for attracting prospective talent.’’
With the end of the pandemic looming, the proportion of employees working from home rather than the office will continue to fluctuate. It means that businesses will need solutions that are tailored to their specific needs but which also contain a degree of flexibility that allows them to adapt to changing office requirements over time.
The solution, says Schiavello, is ergonomic home office furniture provided under an end-to-end management rental service, resulting in a complete home office setting of compliant furniture and accessories. Schiavello workplace specialists deliver and set up furniture packages to suit individual users, ensuring compliance with company OH&S policies.
‘‘As the largest commercial manufacturer of ergonomic furniture in Australia, we are well placed to endorse and deliver an end-to-end solution,’’ says Schiavello. ‘‘We have worked collaboratively with large corporate business and government for over 55 years globally and understand their priority for a safe and productive work setting.
‘‘A portfolio of products has been tailored to suit the home environment with practical sizes, flexible adjustment and portability, while adhering to leading ergonomic design and technology to encourage movement and ensure complete comfort and safety.’’
But as companies whose employees moved home en masse last year experienced, investing in significant volumes of compliant office equipment can cause a capital crunch. In response, Schiavello has created a financing option, which is based on an operating expenditure service model that provides ease of expense management and monthly forecasting.
‘‘Facing substantial upfront costs can be undesirable for business, while an agile finance model with the ability to manage expenses and cash flow based on current needs is an attractive proposition,’’ Schiavello says.
Although having the correct equipment in place is critical to remote worker safety, it will be the ongoing servicing and the nature of use that will bake in compliance and protect both employees and employers from accidents and health issues. Schiavello provides training on how to maintain its equipment to gain maximum use and ensure the furniture remains compliant with company protocols.
‘‘Aligning with industry experts and providers will ensure your business can deliver a compliant, seamless solution with minimal impact on resources.’’
Shared from the 10/18/2021 Financial Review eEdition