Working from home and Internet Access

[Marjory Jamieson]

Hi there

I am looking for some advice on a clause that we are considering for an employment contract. We are a small charity and this is the first employee that we have taken on.

Part of their work may require them to work from home and I am wondering whether anyone can advise on the possibility of including a reference to the employee making arrangements for their own internet access? ICT skills are included in the job description and we'd be willing to cover any hardware costs, including a laptop if necessary and printing, but we don't think we'd be prepared to pay for a broadband subscription if that makes sense? Can anyone advise whether we can/should include this in the contract?

If we are asking them to work from home on occasions do we have to pay or make a contribution to their monthly broadband costs?

Can we ask them/or expect them to have internet access, use this for working from home and not reimbursing an element of this?

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[dotcomdude]

I think you'd be better off allowing them to claim expenses for x days of 'working from home internet access'. This way if they don't do any, they claim nothing. It also leaves the choice of which provider and how long they might want to be tied in, to them.

You may well get a better answer from someone more qualified. This is just my practical advice that seems fair to both sides.

 

[Ian J]

In this day and age isn't everyone that you are considering likely to already have their own broadband?

 

[AlanJ1]

In this day and age isn't everyone that you are considering likely to already have their own broadband?

Yup but think the OP is asking if they need to contribute towards the bill because they are using it for work purposes when working from home.

 

[cjd]

I'm not aware that there's any requirement for you to provide internet access but I think you could reasonably be expected to contribute to any additional expenses incurred by them in using it such as data charges.

You may be interested to know that we provide free telephony services to small UK charities.

https://www.voipfone.co.uk/charities.php

 

[Mr D]

Would employer not be required to also do a risk assessment on the space in the home being used?

And yes some companies do contribute a fixed amount towards the broadband cost. Apportioned for that person or a set rate for all employees. Have seen both used.

 

[Alan]

Also from an IT security perspective, would you not also have to provide and set up a separate router to segregate charity devices from their home internet devices ( especially if they are using personal data for GDPR compliance)?

 

[Newchodge]

I find it confusing that you are prepared to pay for hardware (because they may not have any) but not broadband (why would they have that if they don't have a computer).

I think you need to establish what you actual employee can, and is prepared to, supply for you, then take it from there. I worked for an employer a while ago who expected us to use our own mobile phones for business use, and refused to suply them. We did so because the job was impossible without a mobile. They offered to pay for itemised calls, but as we all had inclusive contracts they claimed it cost us nothing. It cost them a forune in staff ill-will.

 

[Mr D]

I find it confusing that you are prepared to pay for hardware (because they may not have any) but not broadband (why would they have that if they don't have a computer).

I think you need to establish what you actual employee can, and is prepared to, supply for you, then take it from there. I worked for an employer a while ago who expected us to use our own mobile phones for business use, and refused to suply them. We did so because the job was impossible without a mobile. They offered to pay for itemised calls, but as we all had inclusive contracts they claimed it cost us nothing. It cost them a forune in staff ill-will.

Some of my previous employers have supplied business mobile phones. Back when they first started supplying them they were fairly cheap things and we had to carry a couple of spare batteries. Then staff complained about always having to charge the phone.

Employer at the time did look at phone bills and check the calls were as expected initially. Then someone asked how much was spent investigating calls - turned out to be tens of thousands of pounds to look at whether staff had spent between all of them a couple of hundred quid a year on unauthorised calls.
Soon stopped that practice unless it became obvious the phone was being abused for personal calls.

 

[DontAsk]

At the very least you should be considering some form of VPN.

 

[Marjory Jamieson]

Dear all

Many thanks for all of your advice, very much appreciated!