How to conduct work and business in a changing world

Europe

The CMS expert guide to mobile working

Although the impact of the pandemic has varied from country to country, COVID-19 has changed the way we work and do business, and has raised intriguing questions.

Will changes brought on by the pandemic be permanent and if so what will these changes be? Will mobile working, which has been widely employed, become commonplace in the future? Or will employees gradually return to offices, factories and warehouses?

So far, one change is apparent: a push towards making remote work the norm. Indeed, many experts now argue that remote work is not just a temporary solution; it is a sign of the future. But when evaluating the pros and cons of remote work, there is much to consider, which is why CMS has put together this guide that answers essential questions, such as:

  • Does your country have laws governing work from home?
  • How can a company implement work from home (e.g. through collective bargaining agreements, unilateral decision, employment contracts)?
  • Can an employer force an employee to work from home?
  • Can an employee force an employer to let him work remotely?
  • Must an employer provide employees with office equipment and supplies for remote work?
  • Does a company have to reimburse employees for expenses while working from home?
  • Is an employer obliged to grant an employee a specific work-from-home allowance? If so, under what conditions can an employer be exempted from paying this allowance?
  • Is an employer responsible for ensuring a healthy and safe environment for employees working remotely?
  • Does an employee need to be insured to work from home?
  • Is an employee working from home protected for work-related accidents and illnesses?
  • Can an employer charge employee claims for “work-from-home cost reimbursement” against saved expenses, such as the employee’s reduced costs for transportation, gasoline, lunches in restaurants and the dry-cleaning of office attire?

These topics and more will be explored in the free webinar series The Future is Now: The New World of Work, which is scheduled to run from November 2020 until May 2021. The first webinars will cover France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and UK. More jurisdictions will be included in the coming months and we invite you to register for this open series and spread the word to colleagues and customers.

And for more support and legal advice on implementing mobile work within your company, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].