Many businesses have transitioned into a blended workplace environment as a result of pandemic restrictions being lifted throughout the states. Meaning most businesses will still be supporting some level of remote work for their employees. Despite the frequency of this remote work decreasing, businesses are still just as responsible for preparing for the potential liability that comes from this work alternative. However, most businesses actually benefit from their remote employees, despite some inherent risks. This post and accompanying infographic will detail both those benefits and those risks in length.
Where there’s risk, there’s associated challenge. Businesses operating with a remote staff, albeit partial, are no exception to this rule. Perhaps the most challenging thing comes in the form of attempting to manage employees effectively. Managers may have a harder time overseeing their staff with little to no face-to-face interaction. This inability to properly communicate can create some limiting work environments for employees. For example, employees may find collaborating with other teams throughout the organization much more challenging without the same openness of communication they’d find in the office. These employees also face the danger of feeling isolated from their coworkers the longer they work from home without much in-person interaction.
These challenges are met with the additional risk that businesses face as a result of their remote employees. These forms of liability could come in many form, for example a remote employee may injure themselves while out of the office. Alternatively, a data breach can occur as a result of an insecure network. Worst of all, businesses are responsible for any damaged or stolen hardware. Prior to pushing for a blended workplace, it’s wise for businesses to adjust their insurance policies to cover the widespread liability.
As previously mentioned, when considering the dangers of remote employees, there is nothing more catastrophic than cyberattacks. Securing the data of your organization and your clients is of utmost importance. However, without the proper tools, this data can be easily accessed by the many criminals online. Prioritizing up to date firewall and antivirus software is a great defense, but the most important element is an encrypted virtual private network (VPN). Having the right tools in place is imperative, but a layered defense strategy would also include cyber liability insurance. First-party cyber liability insurance are meant to cover the damages related to a data breach on your organization’s systems. Alternatively, or sometimes coupled together, third-party liability insurance cover the damages that come as a result of your clients’ information being compromised.
This preparation is what allows the employees of any business to truly flourish throughout their time spent working remotely. Not only do they feel as though they acquire a better grasp on a work-life balance, they’re also saving many businesses money through reduced overhead costs. Achieving a proper blended workplace environment can greatly benefit your business with the right preparation. To learn more about that preparation, take a moment to check out the infographic included alongside this post, courtesy of B2Z Insurance
