What can an employer expect from you in this time?

Because the time is just a bit different than usual and working is too, you sometimes want to know what is possible and especially what is not. It is nice to meet each other halfway, but it is also handy to know how it should be. Women's Affairs explains it.

Make clear agreements
Make clear agreements about working from home with both your supervisor and colleagues. For example, about communication and availability. It is not so easy to just stop by your colleague for a question now, and you have to call that person. It is also important to address irritations and bottlenecks, for example regarding planning, in a timely manner with your team and supervisor.

What is expected of you

Start working at normal working hours
Working from home means working at home and not working on home. Limit the temptation to do your household chores during working hours. Of course, you gain some time in the morning now that you don't have to travel to the office, but make sure you maintain the discipline to open your computer or laptop at your normal start time.

Looking presentable during an online meeting
Do you often have to run, fly, and rush to open your laptop on time for the morning meeting? Make sure you look presentable and have at least brushed your hair. You don't have to iron all your clothes neatly for a video call so that you look completely presentable. Since only your head and part of your upper clothing are visible on screen, you can wear comfortable (training) pants. Just make sure that your just out of bed look is no longer visible.

Taking or withdrawing vacation days
Has the week in Tenerife that you planned for the May holiday ended up in the trash? Unfortunately, it is not possible to go abroad at this time. It may be that your employer leaves these vacation days intact and you cannot take them back. In other words: you have a week of vacation on your balcony. To prevent all employees from going on vacation en masse (as soon as this is possible again) and to keep the company's finances in order, vacation days will no longer be withdrawn and employees are encouraged to take vacation days now. Note: an employer cannot simply demand that you use your vacation days, but can only ask you to do so.

Work from home if possible
According to the guidelines of the RIVM and the government, people should work from home as much as possible. Can an employer force you to work from home when you believe it is not possible? When you have no place at home to work properly, for example because you cannot isolate yourself from your children, working from home becomes very difficult. An employer should not expect what is not possible. Therefore, you will need to look for a suitable solution together with your supervisor, for example, that you work in the office while your direct colleagues do not.

What is not expected of you

Working overtime because you now have access to all data at home.
Just because you now have a home workspace and a work laptop and/or computer and secure access to the network, does not mean that you automatically start working in the evenings as well. Discuss with your supervisor what your working hours are and whether they can be adjusted, for example, due to children at home.

Incurring your own costs for a safe and healthy workplace
An employer has the duty to provide a safe workplace, this also applies to a home workspace. However, an employer is not obliged to give you money for the setup of your home workspace. Your employer must provide you with access to work materials, such as a computer or laptop and phone subscription. When you leave the company, you return the borrowed work materials.

Have you received a laptop but are experiencing physical complaints due to working from home? Then ask your employer if you can use a separate keyboard, separate mouse, and possibly a riser, so that you are at eye level with your laptop.

Your own costs for phone and/or internet subscription
Now that you are forced to work from home, your employer may reimburse your internet subscription tax-free. You must be able to demonstrate what costs you have incurred, so keep these invoices well and send a copy to your employer.

Text: Women's Affairs