Remote work policy and agreement template

Remote working is one of the most effective benefits that you can provide your employees. It can go a long way in ensuring work/life balance, employee wellbeing and an equitable workplace. To provide clarity for employees and to protect your business, download our Remote Working Policy and Agreement Template. In the template you will find: 

• Remote and Flexible Working Policy
• Remote and Flexible Working Employee Agreement
• Remote and Flexible Working Checklist

What is a Remote Working Policy?

A remote working policy sets out the provisions for employees to work away from the main office of a business. This usually refers to someone working from home, but it could also be another office space or public space. 

Specifically, a policy sets the rules for everyone at an organisation, standardising the rules for all employees. This is different to an employee agreement, which may set out specific parameters to meet the needs of just one person. 

Setting a remote working policy gives people the freedom to choose where they perform their duties, whether that’s 100% of the time or a certain number of days a week in a hybrid remote working model. 

Why do UK businesses need one?

The 2020 lockdowns permanently changed the way many UK businesses work. These days, companies are expected to offer flexibility and at least some level of remote working. Previously, remote working was often something requested and agreed on an individual basis, but today it’s a key expectation for many employees. 

Having a remote working policy in place is essential to remain competitive in attracting new talent and creating a workplace that prioritises employee wellbeing. Not only does remote working greatly expand your pool of potential employees, working from home has also been shown to boost productivity.

There may still be individual cases where a remote working employee agreement is required to meet specific needs, but having a general policy in place is a must for any successful UK business. 

What to include in a Remote Work Policy

A remote work policy sets out the rules for employees to follow when it comes to working away from the office. The aim is to ensure everyone understands the procedures and policies of remote working. A remote work policy could include things like: 

• Communication. How you’ll work with your team and other colleagues using chat systems or video meeting software, and how and when you can be contacted. 
• Working hours. If working hours are different when working at home, such as being able to be away from your desk in the morning if you want to work later in the evening. 
• Equipment. What equipment will be provided to ensure you can do your job at home, such as a laptop or an office chair.
• Internet access. Having a minimum speed for internet connection, or needing faster internet if you’re often required to share larger files. 
• Security. Procedures to ensure company and client information is kept safe and secure, both when working at home and when working in a public place. 

Best practices for implementing a Remote Work Policy

A good place to start with any new company policy is to ask your employees what they want. You’ll probably already have some idea of this if you conduct regular surveys (which you should), but it’s a good idea to get a focused response on remote working. This will help you determine things like whether people want set days in the office or complete flexibility. Of course, some decisions will be driven by business needs, but the point of remote working is to create a better work-life balance for employees. 

When implementing your remote work policy, remember to cover these bases:

• Involve leadership at every level. As well as gathering employee feedback, make sure team leaders are on board and their questions and concerns are heard. 
• Provide training. A new system means new rules and policies, so create training modules to provide clear information on how it will work. 
• Think about technology. Get IT involved so you can figure out what equipment and software will be needed to keep everything running smoothly. 
• Monitor and evolve. Keep an eye on how things are working, noting any snagging points so your policy can be improved and adapted as needed. 

Download your free Remote Work Policy template

Ready to create your remote work policy? Download the template and get started today.