Is a teleworking agreement the same as a remote work agreement?

Yes. A teleworking agreement is another name for a remote work agreement and can be used to set out the terms for working away from the employer’s usual workplace.

Can this checklist be used for hybrid working arrangements?

Yes. The checklist can be used for fully remote, hybrid, temporary, or flexible working arrangements, provided the final agreement reflects the actual working pattern.

What clauses should a remote work agreement include?

Key clauses often include work location, hours, availability, equipment, IT security, confidentiality, expenses, health and safety, performance monitoring, and ending or changing the arrangement.

Does remote working require a health and safety assessment in the UK?

Yes. Employers in the UK have health and safety duties for remote workers, including considering workstation setup, risk assessments, and safe working practices.

How should equipment be covered in a remote work agreement?

It should specify who provides equipment, who is responsible for maintenance, permitted use, return of equipment, and any rules on personal devices or home office setup.

How are remote working expenses handled?

It should state which expenses are reimbursable, how claims are submitted, any limits or approvals required, and whether costs such as internet, phone, or office supplies are covered.

How does the checklist help with data protection?

It helps identify data protection and confidentiality requirements, including secure storage, password protection, device use, access controls, and handling personal or sensitive information.

Can an employer monitor remote workers in the UK?

Yes. Employers may set reasonable availability, communication, reporting, and performance expectations, as long as they comply with employment law and the worker’s contract.

Can a remote work agreement be changed later?

Yes. The agreement can usually be amended by mutual consent, and the checklist can help identify which terms need updating when working arrangements change.

What should I do after completing the checklist?

After completing the checklist, you can use the information to generate a tailored remote work agreement on the main Remote Work Agreement category page.

EN-GB>Employment>Teleworking Agreement>UK Remote Work Agreement Checklist

Remote Work Agreement Preparation Checklist In The United Kingdom

Created: 10 Jun 2026

Use this checklist to prepare a clear, compliant remote work agreement for UK employees. It supports practical planning alongside the AI Generated British Flexible Working Arrangement Agreement.

Checklist item	Checklist category	Timing	Reason for inclusion	Supporting records
Both parties
Confirm whether remote work is permanent, temporary, hybrid, or trial-based.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Clarifies the legal and practical status of the arrangement.	Signed agreement offer letter hybrid policy trial approval email.
Employer
State whether the agreement varies the employment contract.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Avoids uncertainty about contractual rights and obligations.	Contract variation letter employee consent updated contract.
Both parties
Obtain clear written acceptance before changing contractual terms.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Reduces dispute risk over unilateral contract changes.	Signed variation consultation notes email acceptance.
Employer
Confirm the employee's normal place of work and any office attendance requirement.	Work location	Before agreement starts	Prevents disputes about travel, attendance, and relocation expectations.	Employment contract remote work agreement rota or attendance policy.
Employee
List approved remote work addresses and require notice of address changes.	Work location	Before agreement starts	Supports risk assessment, tax, insurance, and security checks.	Address declaration risk assessment change notification form.
Employer
Decide whether working abroad is prohibited or requires prior approval.	Work location	Before agreement starts	Overseas work can create tax, immigration, employment, and data risks.	Overseas working policy approval request tax and immigration advice.
Check whether the employee has a legal right to work from the proposed location.	Work location	Before agreement starts	Right-to-work obligations may be affected by location.	Right-to-work check location declaration immigration advice.
Both parties
Confirm core hours, availability windows, and flexibility limits.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Sets expectations for availability, meetings, and service delivery.	Working pattern schedule team rota availability rules.
Employer
Confirm compliance with working time limits and rest breaks.	Contract terms	At commencement	Remote work can blur working hours and rest time.	Working time records opt-out agreement rota timesheets.
Agree how overtime, additional hours, and time off in lieu will be authorised.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Prevents unauthorised overtime and pay disputes.	Overtime policy approval emails payroll records.
Confirm salary, allowances, and benefits remain unchanged unless stated.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Avoids unintended changes to remuneration or benefits.	Contract benefits statement payroll confirmation.
Confirm the employee remains subject to all workplace policies.	Contract terms	At commencement	Ensures remote staff follow the same rules as office staff.	Policy acknowledgement staff handbook intranet records.
Both parties
Include a review date for remote work arrangements.	Performance management	On review or termination	Allows suitability, performance, wellbeing, and business needs to be reassessed.	Calendar reminder review meeting notes updated agreement.
Specify notice required to end or change the remote work arrangement.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Provides a clear route back to office or altered working patterns.	Notice clause review outcome change notice.
Employer
Check whether the arrangement is a statutory flexible working request.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Statutory requests have procedural rules and decision time limits.	Flexible working request decision letter consultation notes.
Assess equality and reasonable adjustment considerations.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Remote work may be needed to avoid discrimination or support disability.	Occupational health report adjustment plan equality assessment.
Provide a list of employer-supplied equipment.	Equipment	Before agreement starts	Clarifies ownership, maintenance, replacement, and return obligations.	Equipment inventory asset tags issue receipt.
Confirm permitted use of personal devices for work.	Equipment	Before agreement starts	BYOD can increase security and data protection risks.	BYOD policy device register security configuration record.
Set responsibility for maintenance, repair, and replacement of equipment.	Equipment	At commencement	Ensures faults are fixed quickly and safely.	Maintenance log support tickets warranty records.
Employee
Explain how equipment must be returned when remote work ends.	Equipment	On review or termination	Protects company property and confidential information.	Return checklist courier receipt asset reconciliation.
Employer
Check the home workstation is suitable for display screen equipment use.	Health and safety	Before agreement starts	Reduces ergonomic risks from prolonged screen work.	DSE assessment workstation photos adjustment record.
Complete a homeworking health and safety risk assessment.	Health and safety	Before agreement starts	Employers owe health and safety duties to home workers.	Risk assessment action plan employee confirmation.
Both parties
Agree how work-related accidents at home must be reported.	Health and safety	At commencement	Supports investigation, prevention, and statutory reporting where required.	Accident report incident log RIDDOR assessment.
Employer
Consider lone working risks and emergency contact arrangements.	Health and safety	Before agreement starts	Remote workers may be isolated during illness, incidents, or emergencies.	Lone working assessment emergency contact form check-in procedure.
Include wellbeing, stress, and isolation check-ins.	Health and safety	During remote work	Remote work can increase work-related stress and isolation.	One-to-one notes wellbeing plan occupational health referral.
Confirm any required eye tests for display screen equipment users.	Health and safety	During remote work	DSE users may be entitled to eyesight tests and special corrective appliances.	DSE user status eye test voucher reimbursement record.
Employee
Confirm whether the employee's home insurance covers work-related use.	Work location	Before agreement starts	Homeworking may need disclosure to insurers or landlords.	Insurance confirmation landlord consent mortgage or tenancy checks.
Check whether landlord, mortgage, or lease terms restrict home working.	Work location	Before agreement starts	Some residential agreements restrict business use.	Tenant confirmation landlord consent mortgage terms review.
Employer
Define which remote work expenses are reimbursable.	Expenses	Before agreement starts	Prevents disputes over broadband, utilities, furniture, and travel costs.	Expenses policy reimbursement schedule receipts.
Confirm expense claim procedure and approval limits.	Expenses	At commencement	Ensures expenses are controlled and properly evidenced.	Expense forms receipts manager approvals payroll records.
Clarify whether commuting to the office is reimbursed.	Expenses	Before agreement starts	Hybrid work can create uncertainty over ordinary commuting costs.	Travel policy workplace clause reimbursement decisions.
Assess tax treatment of homeworking payments and equipment.	Expenses	Before agreement starts	Some payments or benefits may have PAYE or reporting consequences.	Payroll advice P11D records HMRC guidance note expense receipts.
Both parties
Confirm internet and telephone cost responsibility.	Expenses	Before agreement starts	Connectivity is essential and can create recurring cost disputes.	Allowance clause bills reimbursement approvals.
Employer
Confirm secure access methods, including VPN or approved cloud systems.	Data protection	Before agreement starts	Protects systems and personal data accessed away from the workplace.	IT access record VPN logs security policy acknowledgement.
Require multi-factor authentication where appropriate.	Data protection	At commencement	Reduces unauthorised access risk for remote accounts.	MFA enrolment logs IT policy access audit.
Employee
Prohibit sharing work devices with family or household members.	Data protection	At commencement	Prevents unauthorised access to business systems and information.	Device use policy employee acknowledgement training record.
Both parties
Set rules for printing, storing, and disposing of confidential documents at home.	Data protection	At commencement	Paper records at home increase loss, theft, and disclosure risk.	Clean desk policy secure storage confirmation shredding records.
Employer
Confirm compliance with UK GDPR security obligations.	Data protection	Before agreement starts	Remote processing must use appropriate technical and organisational measures.	Security policy access controls encryption settings audit logs.
Review whether a data protection impact assessment is needed.	Data protection	Before agreement starts	New remote monitoring or processing may create high privacy risks.	DPIA screening completed DPIA risk mitigation plan.
Both parties
Explain personal data breach reporting duties for remote incidents.	Data protection	At commencement	Lost devices or misdirected emails may require urgent action.	Breach procedure incident report ICO notification record.
Employee
Set confidentiality obligations for calls, screens, and household interruptions.	Data protection	At commencement	Remote environments can expose confidential conversations or screens.	Confidentiality clause privacy screen issue record training acknowledgement.
Employer
Confirm whether employee monitoring will be used and explain it transparently.	Performance management	Before agreement starts	Monitoring remote workers must be lawful, fair, and transparent.	Privacy notice monitoring policy DPIA employee notification.
Update employee privacy notices if remote work changes data use.	Data protection	Before agreement starts	Employees must be told how their personal data is used.	Updated privacy notice issue record intranet publication.
Both parties
Define expected communication channels and response times.	Communication	At commencement	Reduces delays, misunderstandings, and over-contacting.	Team charter communications policy service standards.
Employer
Schedule regular manager one-to-ones.	Communication	During remote work	Supports supervision, wellbeing, feedback, and workload management.	Meeting schedule one-to-one notes action logs.
Both parties
Agree team meeting attendance and camera or recording expectations.	Communication	At commencement	Balances collaboration, privacy, inclusion, and accessibility.	Meeting rules accessibility adjustments recording notice.
Employer
Set escalation routes for urgent issues and IT outages.	Communication	At commencement	Remote workers need clear support when systems fail.	IT service desk details escalation matrix outage logs.
Employee
Agree how sickness absence and appointments will be reported remotely.	Communication	At commencement	Remote work must not obscure absence or availability status.	Absence policy sickness notification fit note HR record.
Both parties
Set expectations for annual leave booking and handovers.	Communication	During remote work	Ensures cover and avoids hidden working during leave.	Leave records handover notes out-of-office message.
Employer
Define role objectives, outputs, and measurable deliverables.	Performance management	At commencement	Remote management should focus on outcomes, not visibility alone.	Objectives KPIs appraisal documents project plans.
Confirm supervision arrangements for new starters or junior staff.	Performance management	At commencement	Remote work can reduce informal training and support.	Induction plan supervision schedule mentoring notes.
Apply performance standards consistently between remote and office workers.	Performance management	During remote work	Reduces unfair treatment and discrimination risks.	Performance framework appraisal calibration equality records.
Agree how productivity concerns will be raised and documented.	Performance management	During remote work	Creates a fair process for addressing remote performance issues.	Performance notes improvement plan meeting records.
Confirm training needed for remote systems and cyber security.	Data protection	At commencement	Training reduces user error and security incidents.	Training completion record cyber policy acknowledgement quiz results.
Employee
Confirm the employee has a safe and suitable workspace.	Health and safety	Before agreement starts	The employee must report practical limits on safe homeworking.	Employee self-assessment workspace declaration photos if appropriate.
Agree use of secure Wi-Fi and avoidance of unsafe public networks.	Data protection	At commencement	Insecure networks increase interception and account compromise risk.	Remote access policy employee acknowledgement IT guidance.
Set rules for remote work in public places.	Work location	Before agreement starts	Public places increase confidentiality, theft, and screen visibility risks.	Location policy confidentiality rules security training record.
Both parties
Confirm business continuity expectations during power, broadband, or device failure.	Communication	At commencement	Remote work depends on home utilities and technology.	Continuity plan outage notification alternative work location plan.
Employer
Confirm access to confidential waste disposal or secure shredding.	Data protection	At commencement	Home disposal can expose client, employee, or business data.	Shredding process collection receipts secure disposal logs.
Confirm software licensing covers remote installation and use.	Equipment	Before agreement starts	Unauthorised software use can breach licence terms and security rules.	Software licence register device build record approved apps list.
Employee
Agree restrictions on installing unapproved apps or browser extensions.	Data protection	At commencement	Unapproved software can introduce malware or data leakage.	Acceptable use policy device management logs app approval records.
Employer
Clarify ownership of work product and intellectual property created remotely.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Remote creation should not create uncertainty over work product ownership.	IP clause employment contract project records.
Confirm disciplinary, grievance, and whistleblowing channels are accessible remotely.	Communication	At commencement	Remote workers must be able to raise concerns and access fair procedures.	Policy links HR contact list employee acknowledgement.
Check remote work does not create unequal access to promotion or training.	Performance management	During remote work	Remote staff may be disadvantaged by proximity bias.	Training records promotion data equality monitoring appraisal notes.
Confirm arrangements for probation review if the employee starts remotely.	Performance management	At commencement	Remote onboarding may require clearer targets and support.	Probation plan review notes onboarding checklist.
Set rules for client meetings or visitor access at the home workspace.	Work location	Before agreement starts	Home visits can create safety, insurance, privacy, and safeguarding issues.	Client meeting policy visitor prohibition risk assessment.
Both parties
Confirm rules for caring responsibilities during working hours.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Clarifies availability while avoiding discriminatory assumptions.	Flexible working agreement working pattern adjustment notes.
Employee
Agree secure storage of company equipment outside working hours.	Equipment	At commencement	Reduces theft, loss, and unauthorised household access.	Equipment policy storage confirmation incident reports.
Employer
Confirm data backup and file-saving rules.	Data protection	At commencement	Prevents loss of business records stored locally or offline.	Backup policy cloud storage settings device audit logs.
Confirm rules for remote access by contractors or third parties.	Data protection	Before agreement starts	Third-party access may require processor contracts and security controls.	Processor agreement access approval supplier security review.
Both parties
Set procedure for lost or stolen devices.	Data protection	At commencement	Fast reporting enables remote wipe and breach assessment.	Incident procedure loss report remote wipe log breach assessment.
Employer
Check employer liability insurance covers homeworking activities.	Health and safety	Before agreement starts	Employers normally need cover for employees working remotely.	Insurance certificate broker confirmation policy schedule.
Both parties
Confirm fire and electrical safety expectations for home equipment.	Health and safety	At commencement	Unsafe cables, chargers, or overloaded sockets can cause harm.	Equipment instructions PAT records if used risk assessment notes.
Employer
Confirm the employee can disconnect outside agreed working hours.	Communication	At commencement	Helps manage stress, excessive hours, and work-life boundaries.	Working hours clause communications policy workload reviews.
Record how remote work affects travel time for work journeys.	Contract terms	Before agreement starts	Travel rules affect working time, expenses, and scheduling.	Travel policy place of work clause timesheets.
Confirm minimum wage compliance where unpaid setup or travel time is required.	Contract terms	During remote work	Remote work practices must not reduce pay below legal minimums.	Pay records time records expense deductions review.
Both parties
Confirm procedures for handling post, deliveries, and company documents at home.	Data protection	At commencement	Physical documents can be misplaced or seen by others.	Document handling procedure courier logs receipt confirmations.
Specify how remote work reviews will consider business needs and employee wellbeing.	Performance management	On review or termination	Creates a balanced basis for continuing, changing, or ending remote work.	Review form performance data wellbeing notes revised agreement.
Employee
Confirm how confidential information will be returned or deleted when remote work ends.	Data protection	On review or termination	Ensures data is not retained on personal devices or at home.	Deletion certificate return checklist IT confirmation document collection log.

What Should A UK Remote Work Agreement Cover?

A UK remote work agreement should usually cover contractual status, permitted work location, working hours, equipment, expenses, health and safety, data protection, communication rules, and performance management. The most legally sensitive items are those linked to employment contract changes, statutory health and safety duties, UK GDPR compliance, and pay or working time records.

When Should A Remote Work Agreement Be Put In Place?

The most important items should be settled before remote work starts, especially whether the arrangement is permanent or temporary, where the employee may work, what equipment will be supplied, how costs will be handled, and whether any contract variation is needed. Reviews should be diarised because homeworking arrangements can affect supervision, wellbeing, security, tax, insurance, and team coordination over time.

Who Is Responsible For Remote Working Compliance?

Responsibility is shared, but not equally for every issue. Employers remain responsible for health and safety risk management, fair treatment, data protection governance, working time controls, and providing a clear agreement. Employees are usually responsible for following security rules, reporting hazards or incidents, keeping records where required, and using equipment appropriately.

What Evidence Should Be Kept For A Teleworking Agreement?

Useful supporting records include the signed agreement, contract variation letter, homeworking risk assessment, equipment inventory, expense policy acknowledgements, data protection training records, DPIAs where relevant, working time records, meeting notes, performance objectives, review outcomes, and return-of-equipment confirmations.

Remote work agreement preparation checklist

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FAQs

What is a Remote Work Agreement Preparation Checklist?

It is a step-by-step list of the key information needed to create a UK remote work agreement, including role details, work location, equipment, expenses, data security, health and safety, and working hours.

Why should I use a checklist before creating a remote work agreement?

Who can use this remote work agreement checklist in the UK?

What information is needed for a UK remote work agreement?

Is a remote work agreement legally required in the United Kingdom?

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