David on BBC News: On Tube Strike Days ‘I’m excited to work from home’ – what’s the law on having to travel to the office?
While some commuters are frustrated with the delays getting into work in London, others might be a bit more upbeat about the prospect of working from home for the day.
Though working from home became a lot more acceptable and even expected after the pandemic, some companies have been introducing measures to enforce office working five days a week.
I live in east London. My housemate, who works at a sales company in west London is “very excited” to be able to work from home due to the travel disruption.
Her company has a policy where she would usually have to go into work four days a week and can only take Friday to work from home.
She is cheerily cooking herself some eggs in our kitchen for lunch, telling me that today she will have “an extra two hours of my life saved from commuting there, commuting back” and “money saved on the same meal deal I have eaten for the last four years of my life!”
David Greenhalgh, who is an employment lawyer from London, says legally, if your place of work is stated as your office in your employment contract, you should work from there unless your employer says otherwise.
But, he suggests speaking to HR in advance of travel difficulties, adding: “Employers owe a duty for the care health and safety of all their staff and should therefore not encourage employees to travel where doing so would be unsafe for them.”
Common Questions Answered
Why do I need a lawyer to review my settlement agreement?
UK law requires independent legal advice to be taken before a settlement agreement can become legally binding. Without it, the agreement is unenforceable. An experienced employment lawyer will ensure you understand every clause and that your interests are fully protected.
How much does it cost to get a settlement agreement reviewed?
Your employer will usually pay for you to get independent legal advice on the terms and effect of your agreement. This is standard practice and is typically written into the agreement itself as a contribution towards your legal costs.
Can my settlement agreement be improved?
Often, yes. David regularly negotiates for increases in value, better exit terms and stronger protections for his settlement agreement clients. Even where an employer presents a figure as “final”, there is frequently room to negotiate.
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