Teleworking Agreement Signed, Setting the Rules for Teleworkers and Their Employers
Estonian Trade Union Confederation and Estonian Employers’ Confederation signed an agreement, setting the main rules for teleworking in Estonia.
According to Peep Peterson, the head of Estonian Trade Union Confederation, teleworking gives employees a possibility to successfully combine family and work life, save time and money on commuting. At the same time, teleworking includes some threats – for example, safety issues and the possibility that the working in a home office are not ergonomic enough.
The agreement includes the following 10 rules:
1. Teleworking is voluntary, based on a mutual agreement that can later be cancelled.
2. All the employees with similar responsibilities should have similar possibilities for teleworking. Teleworkers have all the same rights as the other employees.
3. Teleworkers have to follow the information safety rules set by the employer.
4. The employer is in most cases responsible for acquiring the equipment needed for working. The employee has to use the equipment in accordance with the rules set by the employer.
5. Teleworking cannot cause a drop in income for the employee. For example, communal expenses that grow because of fulfilling work assignments will have to be reimbursed by the employer.
6. A teleworker is always responsible for following the safety and health rules set by the employer. The employer and and the representative of employees will have to be able to check the following of the rules.
7. In accordance with the assignments, the employee should be able to choose the working hours.
8. A teleworker should not feel isolated from the rest of the employees and should have possibilities for regular meet-ups, participating in meetings, should have access to information regarding the assignments.
9. Teleworkers should have the same rights and obligations to participate in work-related education as the other employees.
10. Teleworkers should have the same rights as other employees to be a part of workers’ organizations, elect workers’ representatives and be nominated at the elections for workers’ representatives.