Work From Home Rules Changed From August; How Will Employees Be Affected? - Report!

With the world being under lockdown, people are working from home in kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms due to the threat of deadly coronavirus.  

Amid the crisis, huge changes have kicked in from August 1 for employees. As per Mirror report, firms have introduced changes for millions of workers in England. From this week, firms can for the first time ask people to come to office, even if it's not necessary for them to be there. 

Despite fear and rise in cases, getting back to office will be a wave of relief for many who are cooped up at home. While for few, it will be a great worry as they would juggle childcare, health issues and worries about a second wave of coronavirus.

This big news and move comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson dramatically halts a string of other measures to open up society; which means the government has so far failed to guarantee a legal right to work from home, Mirror further reported. 

Below are few questions where the rules change in England:

- What is the guidance right now? The current scenario for England is that if you can work from home, then fine. If you can't do your job from home, you are advised to go back into your workplace if possible. If employees are going back then the firm should make your workplace 'Covid-19 secure' to reduce the risk of transmission. Which means lots of things can be included like extra cleaning, seating people further apart, and putting up screens and floor markings. 

- What changed on August 1? Instead of the UK government telling which firm should get back to work or  not; the firm itself should decide who comes into the workplace. Announcing the changes that will be made, Boris Johnson said: "We are going to give employers more discretion. That could mean of course continuing to work from home, which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees. Or it could mean making workplaces safe by following Covid-19 Secure guidelines."

- Why have things changed? amid the growing fears, Boris Johnson announced the change in city centre economies that will grind to a halt.

The Coronavirus rates has been falling steadily before the UK PM's announcement. However, The PM's own Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Patrick Vallance warned that "We are still at a time when distancing measures are important. Of the various distancing measures, working from home remains a perfectly good option for many companies because it is easy to do."

"A number of companies do not think it is detrimental to productivity, and in that situation I see absolutely no reason to change it," he added.