Home Is the Office: Health & Safety in Remote and Hybrid Work (2025 Update)

Home Is the Office: Health & Safety in Remote and Hybrid Work (2025 Update)

Flexible working is here to stay — but so are your health and safety duties.

Since the pandemic, remote and hybrid working have become a permanent fixture for many organisations. While this shift brings clear benefits (improved work-life balance, reduced commuting, and access to a wider talent pool) it also introduces new challenges.

One area often overlooked is health and safety for those working away from traditional offices. Employers may assume that risk ends at the office door, but the law, and good practice, say otherwise.

In this article, KNW Training explains what employers need to consider, the main risks involved, and how training can help you keep your teams safe, supported and productive.

Legal Responsibilities for Employers

Even if employees work from home some or all of the time, they are still covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. These require employers to:

• Assess and manage health and safety risks in employees’ work environments
• Ensure workstations and equipment are safe and suitable
• Provide appropriate training, information and supervision
• Manage stress and support mental health and wellbeing

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been clear: remote workers are not exempt from these protections. Employers must be able to demonstrate that they have assessed risks, acted to reduce them, and kept records of the process.

Failing to address these duties could lead to injury claims, enforcement action, or damage to staff wellbeing and morale.

Key Risks in Remote and Hybrid Working

Ergonomics & Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
Poorly set up home workstations can lead to musculoskeletal disorders, back and neck pain, eye strain and fatigue. Many staff still work from kitchen tables or sofas, which can cause lasting harm over time.

Electrical and Fire Safety
Employees may use their own equipment or share sockets with household appliances, increasing the risk of fire or electric shock. Employers must make sure equipment is safe and staff understand safe use.

Mental Health & Isolation
Remote working can blur boundaries between home and work, increase isolation, and contribute to stress or burnout. Mental health must be treated as a workplace safety issue, with the same duty of care as physical hazards.

Data Security & Confidentiality
Remote work increases the risk of data breaches through unsecured networks, personal devices or shared spaces.

Lone Working
Without colleagues nearby, even minor incidents can become serious. Employers should plan for emergencies and ensure staff know how to raise the alarm if something goes wrong.

Best Practice: How Employers Can Protect Staff

To meet legal duties and protect employees, organisations should consider:

• Risk Assessments – Provide self-assessment checklists or conduct virtual workstation assessments via video calls.
• Ergonomic Support – Offer guidance on correct workstation setup and consider providing chairs, laptop stands, keyboards and monitors.
• Training – Deliver DSE awareness and workstation setup training, plus modules on electrical safety, lone working and fire prevention where appropriate.
• Mental Health Support – Train line managers to spot signs of stress or burnout. Provide access to mental health first aiders, Employee Assistance Programmes or counselling support.
• Clear Communication – Set expectations around working hours, encourage regular breaks, and schedule regular check-ins to keep staff engaged.
• Emergency Planning – Establish lone worker policies and ensure staff know who to contact if something goes wrong.

These actions not only protect staff but also help improve morale and productivity, showing employees they are valued and supported — wherever they work.

The Role of Training Providers

Specialist training plays a vital role in creating safe, sustainable remote working practices. KNW Training supports organisations with tailored courses including:

• Home workstation and DSE safety
• Mental health awareness and resilience
• Managing remote and hybrid teams effectively
• Cyber security and data protection
• Fire and electrical safety in the home

Training helps organisations demonstrate compliance, build confidence and ensure staff have the skills to manage their own safety.

As hybrid working becomes permanent for many roles, refresher training ensures staff stay up to date with evolving best practice and legal requirements.

Conclusion

Remote and hybrid working are now part of everyday working life… but so is your duty to protect your people. Taking a proactive approach to home-working safety will reduce risk, protect wellbeing, and improve organisational performance.

By combining thorough risk assessments with targeted training and ongoing support, employers can create a safe and productive remote workforce — wherever they are based.

KNW Training can help you meet your obligations and protect your team.

Get in touch with our team today to discuss our range of health and safety training.