Employers have had many adjustments to make since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and there still may be more to come. Even as the UK begins to reopen fully and return to life somewhat resembling pre-Covid conditions, it’ s important for organisations to realise that things have changed.

Many changes in organisations’ daily operations will have sizable effects on various workplace exposures and liabilities. Potential issues that may need to be addressed could stem from building closures during the pandemic or the ongoing utilisation of remote work. Whether employees are returning to a traditional work environment or continuing to work remotely, employers are responsible for their health and safety. Even an employee who develops a health problem while working full-time from home could file an employers’ liability claim.

Some questions employers should consider asking themselves include:

• Have all employees been provided with appropriate equipment to maintain good ergonomics?

• Do managers communicate regularly

with remote employees to notice and provide support for various issues, such as feelings of isolation or burnout?

• Have building inspections and equipment maintenance and testing remained up to date during the pandemic?

Increased cyber attacks targeting home workers It’ s worth noting that the coronavirus pandemic has also had an impact on cybersecurity. Covid-19 forced many organisations to improvise and expand their use of technology to accommodate remote and hybrid working arrangements. Even though the conditions surrounding Covid-19 may now make it possible for workers to return to a traditional work environment, remote working is still expected to continue in many cases.

Remote workers may be seen as easier targets for cyber-criminals, but many organisations have not yet taken the necessary steps to protect themselves from these new or enhanced cyber-threats. In the past 12 months:

• Deployment of security monitoring tools has reduced from 40- 35 %.

• User monitoring has reduced from 38-32 %

• Up-to-date malware protection has decreased from 83-78 %

Comprehensive work-from-home guidelines Using personal devices to conduct business is an easy way to compromise usernames and passwords. Employers should set clear guidelines regarding acceptable technology to use( often a work-provided laptop) and work locations. For instance, cafes may be off-limits because they often have unsecured networks.

Employee education Education and training are perhaps the best protections against cyber-threats. Employees should know basic cyber-security tactics, such as how to spot a phishing email, how to recognise a scam caller and how to report a potential security breach. They should also be instructed to not reuse login credentials, especially between work accounts and personal accounts. Start educating employees about cyber security today to better protect your organisation. Contact us for more cyber-tips and other workplace guidance.

ians @ markrichard. co. uk 0117 947 9514

For more info: www. markrichard. co. uk