Work at home agreements

I was asked by a friend for input on a work at home agreement, and thought it might be helpful to our readers (those who work at home and those who manage people who do.)

A good work at home agreement could be a simple checklist or a more formal document, depending on the needs of your organization, but it should include most of the following, depending on the circumstances:

• What days/hours of the teleworker's regular schedule can be worked at home?
  
• Are they discretionary or mandatory? (If you're sharing office space it would be awkward if both showed up to work in the office at the same time.)
  
• What tasks can be done remotely, and which need to be done in the office?
  
• Under what circumstances should the teleworker be called into the office?
• What hours does the teleworker need to be available by phone and/or email?
• What meetings should the teleworker attend in person?
  
• Will the company supply any equipment (laptop, phone, etc.)
  
• Will the company reimburse for expenses such as phone calls, internet bills, faxes, postage, etc.?
• Are status meetings or check-in points required? (This might be a good idea, especially for new teleworkers or new managers of teleworkers to ensure that objectives are being set and met.)
• Is it okay if the teleworker works irregular hours? (Do you care if he's golfing all day and working all night, for example.)
  

The more of these things are worked out in advance, the less potential for issues later.

Best wishes,

-Paula