Working from home provides many benefits, with more and more people today embracing homeworking options. However, there are a number of issues that must be addressed in order to do so.

This is according to a recent article from Personnel Today. Writing for the website, Katie Richards states that one must consider the following: how a standard employment contract should be amended to encompass homeworking; issues relating to health and safety; and what can be done if a homeworking request is refused.

More than four million people in the UK work from home some or all of the time, the Office for National Statistics has said. Enabled by technological advances, it provides people the chance to improve their work-life balance, while also helping parents with young children maintain their careers.

In offering advice to people working from home, as well as employers wishing to enable their workforce to homework, Ms Richards says that there are several useful considerations. The first of these is to actually ensure that someone who is working from home still has the option of working in the company's offices – whether this is for meetings or on an ad hoc basis.

She also states: "An employer must agree with the employee what hours he or she will be available for work and to what extent those hours can be flexible. Both parties should be aware of the stipulations contained in the Working Time Regulations 1998 with regard to hours and breaks."

Expenses should also be discussed, the article explains. Travel costs, heating and telephone contracts are among things that an employer could contribute towards. Likewise a homeworker will require equipment if they are to work remotely – they can speak to their employers about helping cover these costs.