Where it used to be that employees were expected to be in the office 9-5, Monday through Friday, today’s work environment has changed dramatically, and with that, remote employees are becoming more and more the norm. All you have to do is take a look at the facts from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) that showed that, in the past decade, those who work remotely have increased by almost a quarter of a million here in the UK. Many experts estimate that by 2020, up to 50% of the UK workforce could be working remotely.
This new normal has brought about a number of questions from employers who are trying to still create that ideal work-place balance, despite the fact their employees aren’t in one central office. One question that employers are asking is whether or not they need liability insurance for their remote workers? How important is it? Let’s examine the question further.
Look into your current coverage
One of the best places to start is to take a look at your current business insurance plan. Typically, the smaller business insurance plans aren’t going to go so far as to insure employees who work from home, but that isn’t a given. If you have any questions, it’s best to call your insurance provider directly and ask if you have coverage for remote workers.
In speaking with your provider, they may also be able to discuss liability insurance that would specifically cover legal expenses that occur due to working-from-home. They can also give you a quote on what that additional coverage would cost you.
Think of the potential consequences
While no employer wants to think about dealing with an unhappy or disgruntled employee, the fact is that you can’t predict the future and you have no idea what may happen. And it’s not even the employee themselves; what if a client is unhappy with how their sensitive information was handled by your remote worker and then sues your business? Without liability insurance covering your remote workers, it could be the end of your company as you know it.
It comes down to weighing the potential risks and what their consequences would mean to your business. In other words, it is “better to be safe than sorry”.
What additional steps can you take?
Besides insuring your remote workers, there are other steps that are wise to take when allowing employees to work from home. You’ll want to make sure their homeowner’s policy is up to date in terms of insurance coverage. Also, ask whether their home is also safe for working in, which may include photos they can send you and you can keep on record. Additionally, you’ll want to be sure that cybersecurity practices are followed.
Their health and wellbeing still has to be a priority, even when working from home. The last thing you want to deal with is a an accident at work in their home-office, which could lead to compensation, and even balloon into a bigger issue where The Medical Negligence Experts would have to step in to assist the employee.
It makes good business sense
At the end of the day, providing insurance for remote workers does end up being an added expense, but one that can be extremely worth it.