Increased effectiveness, not just safety
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote forms of work have gained in popularity. The introduction of a formalized procedure allowing for ordering the employee to work from a place other than the actual place of the employer’s registered office using the Act on Special Solutions for Preventing, Counteracting, and Combating COVID-19, other infectious diseases and emergencies caused by them (hereinafter also referred to as the “Specustawa”) has led to the popularization of this form of work in many sectors. It quickly became clear that this was not only an effective way to slow the virus’ spread but also a great convenience for the employee, who could do the same work as before the pandemic without having to commute to the office.
For this reason, the Polish government has taken steps to ensure the possibility of remote working even after the end of the epidemic threat an epidemic state. Work on a bill introducing remote working into the Labour Code has been ongoing since September 2021. On the 24th of May 2022, the approval of the project was announced on the website of the Prime Minister’s Office.
New controlling opportunities for employers
The popularization of remote working has been met with some concerns by employers. It should be remembered that in the case of remote workers, the employer bears the same risks as in the case of employees providing work in the traditional form. The employer is responsible for, among other things: accidents at work or any damage the employee causes in the course of providing work. But how to ensure that the employee performs his work properly and complies with occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations when performing work from home?
The proposed amendment to the Polish Labor Code is supposed to help employers solve this problem by expanding their inspection rights. One such power will be to check whether an employee providing remote work is under the influence of alcohol or other drug substances.
The drunk employee will not work remotely
The proposed act provides that an employer who has a reasonable suspicion that an employee performing remote work is under the influence of alcohol or drugs may carry out an inspection at the place where the employee works and check if there is alcohol or other similarly acting substances in his or her system. In difficult or exceptional situations, the employer may be assisted by the police. Sobriety checks are permissible to protect the employer’s health, life, or property. The employer is required not to allow employees who are under the influence of intoxicants or alcohol to work.
The project has already been passed and will probably soon be brought to Parliament.