The regulations regarding working remotely in Poland, expected for over two years, contain certain solutions that may prove difficult for employers to implement. Ultimately, however, it is the pressure of employees that will decide whether remote and hybrid work will be adopted by us permanently.
Many of us have come to the conclusion that the work is to last 8 hours and not a minute more for unnecessary commuting, which is a “steal” of free time – according to research.
Regulations on remote work will apply in the fall. Quite late, considering that the need to regulate remote work appeared in the spring of 2020, but it is good that the matter has finally been settled.
Working remotely popular
The lawyers interviewed by Rzeczpospolita point to shortcomings that may result in employers not being interested in implementing remote work at home. The act requires the implementation of many documents, consultation with employee representatives or arrangements with trade unions. In the worst-case scenario, it may end up with some companies using only the occasional 24-day remote work to minimise paperwork and documentation.
– Both companies and employees will prefer to use simple, quick solutions – assessed attorney Sarek-Sadurska. She also pointed out that employers postulated, inter alia, a greater number of occasional remote work days – from 36 to as much as 48 a year.
The method of determining the lump sum or equivalent for electricity, internet or using the employee’s own tools while performing work may also be a challenge. The new regulations allow for lump-sum settlement of these costs, but also indicate that when determining the amount of the equivalent, the employer should take into account the individual costs of the employee.
And here the matter becomes complicated, because how, for example, to determine the individual cost of using the Internet, when the home is connected to wireless, unlimited Internet used by the whole family?
Employers may also be concerned about the right of employees to resign from remote work, which they must inform about 30 days in advance. This can be difficult when the company has already adapted the number of desks and floor space to the reduced number of stationary employees.
Magdalena Warzybok from the Kincentric firm summarised, however, that the popularity of remote and hybrid work will depend on whether employees will pressure its introduction. For many, this is a new, unquestionable state of affairs, and they treat forcing them to travel as a violation of their private time.
Cost of travel
– Our research shows that many people treat the return to the office as an attempt to take away from them a part of their private life that they have already managed. An additional burden, apart from the time to commute to work, is also the growing costs of travel – said Magdalena Warzybok.
Source: Wprost
