Employers across the UK are being reminded that home and hybrid workers must receive the same level of health and safety protection as office-based employees, as remote working becomes a permanent feature.
In new guidance issued, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stressed that employers have a legal responsibility to assess and manage risks for home workers, something that many organisations may still be overlooking. The warning comes as Office for National Statistics data shows 38% of workers in Great Britain now operate in remote or hybrid roles.
For HR and EDI professionals in games, where distributed teams, flexible working and global collaboration are increasingly common, the guidance reinforces the need for inclusive and equitable working environments regardless of location.
HSE highlights three priority risk areas: stress and mental health, safe use of display screen equipment (DSE), and the overall working environment.
Barbara Hockey of HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division emphasised that while remote working offers benefits, employers must remain proactive. Regular communication, open conversations about workload, and ensuring employees are not pressured to work beyond normal hours are key steps in meeting duty-of-care obligations.
For EDI leaders, the guidance also intersects with broader inclusion goals. Remote work can improve accessibility for underrepresented talent, including those with disabilities or caring responsibilities. However, without consistent safeguards, it can also introduce inequalities, particularly around mental health support, ergonomic working conditions and access to resources.
Importantly, HSE notes that employers do not typically need to visit employees’ homes to remain compliant. Instead, simple measures (such as encouraging staff to self-assess their workspace, checking equipment safety, and ensuring awareness of emergency procedures) can effectively mitigate risk.
Free tools and resources are available via HSE to support organisations in conducting home-working risk assessments and embedding best practice.
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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
