How to work from home without breaking the bank

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. However, the other side of the argument is that working from home, on a full-time basis, is bad for employees, especially younger people, and that it encourages people to slack off, although the ONS research showed that those working from home usually work an average of six hours overtime a week, compared with three in the workplace. If you are working from home and your employer has said you’ll receive a pay cut for doing so, where do you stand legally? Karen Jackson, a solicitor specialising in disability discrimination in employment and MD of law firm Didlaw, said: “It is open to employers to cut pay for people working from home, there is no law against it, however they can only do so with the express consent of the employee because this is a contract variation. This needs to be agreed and in writing otherwise reducing pay will be an unlawful deduction from wages.” Another area where workers may be able to work from home is if they are disabled.