New Ways of Working

01. Has the government introduced any laws and/or issued guidelines around remote-working arrangements? If so, what categories of worker do the laws and/or guidelines apply to – do they extend to “gig” workers and other independent contractors?

02. Outline the key data protection risks associated with remote working in your jurisdiction.

03. What are the limits on employer monitoring of worker activity in the context of a remote-working arrangement and what other factors should employers bear in mind when monitoring worker activity remotely?

04. Are employers required to provide work equipment (for example, computers and other digital devices) or to pay for or reimburse employees for costs associated with remote working (for example, internet and electricity costs)?

05. What potential issues and risks arise for employers in the context of cross-border remote-working arrangements?

06. Do employers have any scope to reduce the salaries and/or benefits of employees who work remotely?

07. Do employers have a legal duty to provide covid-19-safe working environments? If so, what practical steps can employers take to satisfy this duty?

08. Can employers require or mandate that their workers receive a covid-19 vaccination? If so, what options does an employer have in the event an employee refuses to receive a covid-19 vaccination?

09. What are the risks to an employer making entry to the workplace conditional on an individual worker having received a covid-19 vaccination?

10. Are there some workplaces or specific industries or sectors in which the government has required that employers make access to the workplace conditional on individuals having received a Covid-19 vaccination?

11. What are the key privacy considerations employers face in relation to ascertaining and processing employee medical and vaccination information?

17. To what extent have employers been able to make changes to their organisations during the pandemic, including by making redundancies and/or reducing wages and employee benefits?

18. What actions, if any, have unions or other worker associations taken to protect the entitlements and rights of remote workers?

19. Are employers required to consult with, or otherwise involve, the relevant union when introducing a remote-working arrangement? If so, how much influence does the union and/or works council have to alter the working arrangement (for example, to ensure workers’ health and safety is protected during any period of remote work)?