Employee Engagement – The Risks Remote Work Plays On Employees
With many employees expecting their businesses to continue to honor their remote workplace policies post pandemic, a compromise in the way of blended workplace environments has taken hold over most businesses. This compromise provides the best of both worlds for both businesses and their employees. Despite the fact that some work has returned to the office, the importance of safety for remote workers continues to linger. As a business, being unprepared for the potential liability and issues associated with remote work could be your downfall. This post will detail the dangers of remote work and how your business can remain prepared for them throughout this newly established work dynamic.
Though not necessarily considered a traditional liability, one risk that many businesses have come to realize of remote work specifically is the lack of connection between managers and employees. There’s a much easier dynamic that’s established between employees and their managers when working in the office, and while many employees are still capable of remaining engaged, some employees may struggle without the face-to-face time in the office. Managers must be prepared to continue engaging and watching over their staff in an effective manner despite the partial time spent at home.
The more traditional liability that businesses face as a result of this remote work is seen in the examples included below. Injuries at the home, both to the employee and to the work administered hardware. Worse than a scratch on a laptop, potentially stolen hardware still has to be dealt with as well. This can also lead way to data breaches, another potentially jeopardizing element as a result of remote work. While it’s true that something like an encrypted virtual private network, or VPN, can fend off certain acts of cybercrime, there is more to be done in the way of preparation. When considering how to be properly prepared for these otherwise unexpected incidents, businesses must invest into the correct insurance policy in place to cover these issues.
No organization operating under a blended workplace environment should be without the proper coverage. Cyber liability insurance policies in particular are put in place to defend both your organization and your partners from certain acts of cybercrime. Many businesses default to first-party policies that defend and insure themselves from these breaches. However, third-party policies can also cover breaches that would jeopardize your clients’ bottom line as well. In tandem, these policies can act as a great defense for your business.
With the right preparation, a proper blended workplace environment can offer your employees a sense of satisfaction as a result of a more balanced work-life breakdown. More time spent at home means more time to connect with family which is a huge benefit and factor in keeping employees happy. The benefits don’t stop there though, as many businesses also observe reduced overhead costs when their employees are out of the office, even only partially. To learn more about these benefits of remote work, be sure to read on to the infographic paired alongside this post. Courtesy of B2Z Insurance
