Agile working (or smart working) is a way of carrying out an employment relationship characterised by the absence of time or space constraints and an organisation based on phases, cycles and objectives, established by agreement between the employee and employer; a method that helps workers to balance their work and personal lives and, at the same time, promotes increased productivity.
The definition of smart working, contained in Law 81/2017, emphasises organisational flexibility, the voluntary nature of the parties signing the individual agreement and the use of tools that enable remote working (such as laptops, tablets and smartphones).
Agile workers are guaranteed equal treatment - both economic and regulatory - compared to their colleagues who perform their duties in the ordinary manner. They are therefore protected in the event of accidents and occupational diseases, in accordance with the procedures set out by INAIL in Circular 48/2017.
The Employer is obliged to ensure that each worker receives sufficient and adequate training on health and safety, in relation to the general risks and those specific to their job. Furthermore, in order to guarantee the health and safety of workers who perform their duties in agile working mode, the Employer undertakes to:
- providing the employee and the RLS, before the start of agile working, at least once a year (and/or whenever there is a significant change in working conditions and risks, particularly in relation to a change of job), with a report identifying the general and specific risks relating to the work to be performed and the measures to be taken;
- implementing in any case the protective measures referred to in Article 15 of Legislative Decree 81/2008 (health checks, risk assessment/limitation/elimination, adequate training/information, etc.).
The Employer, as required by current regulations (Law 81/2017; Art. 22; Chapter 2), provides workers who perform their duties under a smart working regime with information identifying, on an indicative basis, the general and specific risks associated with the manner in which the work is performed and the prevention and protection measures to be adopted.
The contents of the information sheet have been developed on the basis of the general and specific risks potentially associated with the particular way in which the employment relationship is carried out in environments other than those of the Polytechnic, as provided for in point 6 of the Guidelines of the Directive of the President of the Council of Ministers No. 3 of 1 June 2017.
Politecnico di Torino employees involved in agile working - smart working follow the provisions specifically provided for this type of work in terms of health and safety at work and receive specific training and information.
The worker must responsibly ensure that the workplace meets ergonomic and hygiene requirements, adopt correct postures and behave in accordance with safety rules. They must also use any work equipment assigned to them correctly and ensure that it is efficient and intact before and during use. The worker therefore undertakes to perform their duties under a smart working regime, cooperating diligently in the implementation of the prevention and protection measures put in place by the Employer to address the risks associated with performing their duties in environments other than those of the University.