B&Q Guidelines for Homeworkers in Overseas Supply Chains ...

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IntroductionB&Q expects the B&Q Code of Conduct for Supply Chains to be met in all worksites. Theseguidelines give practical advice on how to achieve this if there are homeworkers in your supplychains. It is your responsibility to inform B&Q that your have homeworkers in your supply chain.B&Q define homeworkers as people who:Carry out paid work in their homes to produce a product or service as specified by theemployer/supplier of work; andAre in a relationship of dependency with the employer (i.e. a person or company who gives outhomework, either directly or through an intermediary).There is no legal definition of a relationship of dependency, however within this policy, the term‘homeworker’ does not include people who:Work from home on an occasional basis would be considered by national law to be fullyindependent and self-employed; andIf there is any doubt or dispute over the status of a homeworker, the onus should be on theemployer to prove that the worker is in fact self-employed and not an employee of the company.Conditions of employmentB&Q encourage good communications between suppliers and all workers and would recommendthat regular meetings be held between company management and homeworkers. A member of staffor management should be nominated as the principle point of contact for homeworkers. Allhomeworkers should be given this persons name and telephone number and made aware thatissues or requirements can be discussed with this person.Contract of employmentIn addition to standard requirements, contracts for homeworkers should detail the following:Expected working hours and the minimum amount of work to be made available each week;Details of which expenses will be paid by the employer;The day, time and process for passing work and materials between the homeworker and theemployer should be defined and only changed with express prior consent;Supervision and grievance procedures;Where insurance cover is agreed, it should provide liability insurance for the worker, equipment,goods/products being processed and the premises where work is to be carried out;B&Q Guidelines for Homeworkers in Overseas Supply Chains August 2013
No other persons shall be involved in the completion of work on the workers’ behalf;Guidelines setting out the company’s quality assurance procedures and outlining the course ofaction if quality standards are not met shall be made available to homeworkers at the start of thecontract; andWhere additional insurance is required to cover the workers, home due to work carried out on thepremises, the extra sum shall be paid by the employer for the duration of the period of employment.The homeworker is responsible, where applicable, of informing insurance companies, mortgagelenders & local authorities that work is to take place on the premises.Wages & ExpensesA process should be in place to ensure that homeworkers are not left with stock or materials;Employers should attempt to provide a minimum amount of work per week;Compensation should be given for use for own power supply;Where homeworkers are required to collect and/or return work to the company’s premises reimbursementshould be given for travel expenses at the same rate as for other employees; andCompany insurance should cover homeworkers and product whilst on the worker’s premises.Alternatively, the company shall pay the excess amount incurred to insure the worker home as theirplace of work.Health & SafetyInduction and trainingAll homeworkers shall be given relevant health and safety training prior to starting work;Where appropriate homeworkers shall receive an induction on the company’s premises within thefirst month of starting work. This may take any form, but must include training for the job to beundertaken, given by a member of staff or management experienced in carrying out that particulartask;Refresher training should be given whenever the homeworker begins a new task, or if requiredquality standards are not being met;A completed sample should be included within each despatch.B&Q Guidelines for Homeworkers in Overseas Supply Chains August 2013
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