header-logo header-logo

Home working: too much of a good thing?

15 July 2020 / Jeremy Nixon
Issue: 7895 / Categories: Opinion , Employment , Profession
printer mail-detail
24252
As many of us contemplate a gradual return to the office, Jeremy Nixon highlights some of the possible pain points for employers & employees

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been traumatic on many levels, for some office-based workers, the move to home working in March has been a breath of fresh air, literally. Colleagues have replaced commutes on stuffy trains and sitting in traffic jams with a walk round the park before firing up their PC.

Of course, for some staff home working has been very challenging. Those trying to home school or care for relatives can’t find enough hours in the day. And younger staff who need a greater level of mentoring and perhaps live in shared accommodation may also long for a return to the office environment.

At the present time, official government advice remains to work from home if you can and avoid public transport. Having said that, the prime minister has recently suggested that people should go back to work if

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll