ABSTRACT
Helen in the Legal Department has emailed you to say the business is being sued by a keyboard operator who works from home.
‘She’s using a computer supplied by us,’ says Helen, ‘but she worked at her kitchen worktop on a stool. She’s been to her GP complaining of back pain. She says we didn’t give her any ergonomic assessment, advice on set-up, seating, posture or breaks.’
You sigh. You’ve a lot of work on. This is a really unwelcome distraction. And you can’t help but think it’s a try-on. Should you stop people working from home? Should you conduct assessments in everyone’s home, for everyone who ever works at home? As if you don’t have enough to do. ‘Let’s call the health and safety experts,’ you say, wearily.
