Over 4.3 million Australians – or nearly a third of the working population – have been working from home during COVID- 19, according to recent research from Roy Morgan, with millions continuing in ‘WFH’ arrangements.

ASPL Group CEO Ms Grant says working from home has blurred boundaries between work and home life and employers need to be aware this also affects their duty of care.

“The health and safety of employees at work is a critical responsibility of employers, who must ensure they are providing a safe workplace,” Ms Grant said.

“During COVID, we are working from home so this means shifting strategies around duty of care to include and address what’s happening at home, which unfortunately includes mental health issues and increased rates of domestic violence.

“There are legal implications around adequately identifying risks to health and safety – so business leaders and managers need to be aware of their responsibilities and be trained and equipped to deal with these challenges now and going forward.”

How can employers ensure that they are meeting their obligations?