Employment Contract Template for Remote Workers (UK 2026)

Employment ContractRemote Worker

Last updated: February 2025

When You Need This Contract

Fully remote employment contracts must address the practical and legal implications of employees working permanently from home or other locations outside the employer's premises. The contract must cover home working health and safety obligations including DSE assessments, equipment provision and ownership, data security when working on home networks, expense reimbursement policies, and the right to require occasional office attendance. With the growth of remote working, HMRC rules on home office expenses and the employer's duty of care for remote workers also need addressing.

Key Clauses

  • Home as the primary place of work with occasional office attendance provisions
  • Equipment provision, ownership, insurance, and return obligations
  • Home working health and safety including DSE assessment obligations
  • Data security requirements for home network and devices
  • Expense policy covering broadband, utilities, and home office costs

What to Watch Out For

  • Not conducting a home working health and safety risk assessment including DSE assessment as required by law
  • Failing to address data security for employees working on potentially unsecured home networks

Sample Clauses

  • Sample home working clause: 'Your normal place of work is your home. The Company will provide [laptop, monitor, chair] for your use. You are responsible for maintaining a suitable working environment and permitting the Company to conduct periodic home working assessments. You agree to attend the Company's premises for [X days per quarter] when reasonably requested.'
  • Sample data security clause: 'When working remotely, you must use the Company VPN for all work activities, ensure your home WiFi is password-protected with WPA2 or higher encryption, lock your screen when away from your workstation, and store all Company documents in approved cloud storage rather than local drives.'

FAQ

Do employers have health and safety obligations for remote workers?

Yes. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 apply to home workers. You must assess the home working environment for risks, ensure suitable equipment and furniture, conduct DSE assessments, and provide guidance on safe working practices. While you cannot control the home environment as you would an office, you must take reasonable steps to protect remote workers' health and safety.

Can I require a remote worker to come into the office occasionally?

If the contract specifies that the employee may be required to attend the office for reasonable purposes such as team meetings, training, or client meetings, yes. Include a clause specifying the expected frequency of office attendance and reasonable notice requirements. If you later want to change a fully remote arrangement to hybrid or office-based, this would typically require contractual variation with the employee's agreement.

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This is guidance for UK businesses, not legal advice. Templates are illustrative. Consult a solicitor for complex matters.

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