The Risks of Telecommuting

As an employer, you hold the power for allowing your employees to work outside of the office, otherwise known as telecommuting. This practice has become quite common in our digital age, and seems to be a win-win situation for many people. However, some business owners may not realize the risks they take in allowing their employees to telecommute. Being aware of these risks and knowing what to do if something does happen is important for all employers as well as their employees.

The risks for working from home may seem obvious to some. Many people who work from home may not understand the importance of having a proper workspace set up. Several others will simply work from their bed because it is nice and comfortable. Unfortunately, there are way too many people who are not educated on ergonomics. Being aware of how to sit properly in a chair and where to position your keyboard and monitor can help your employees avoid back problems and more severe issues like carpal tunnel syndrome. If you do not know anything about ergonomics, it is recommended that you learn as much as you can before allowing your employees to work from home. In fact, you may end up realizing that your office at work is not even ergonomically sound! Make sure you do whatever you can to make your employee's workplace situation as healthy as possible by having them setting up their work area to be ergonomic.

Working from home also poses a security risk if the company has not taken the proper precautions to safeguard the employee's computer. Making sure to install firewall software will help prevent unwanted "guests" from getting into the company network through the employee's computer while they work from home. Telecommuting can be a very handy program, but your information may be constantly at risk if you do not take the steps to secure it with an antivirus program as well.

Employers of telecommuting employees should also be worried about their employees sustaining any kind of injury during work hours. In the case of Wait v. Travelers Indemnity Company of Illinois, there was a woman who was telecommuting and decided to take her lunch break, during which she was assaulted by her neighbor. The Court decided that, since she was injured during work hours, she was technically injured during the course of the employee's employment. This is a liability issue in and of itself because the company would have to pay worker's compensation if this happened on their time.

Going back to the ergonomics and worker's compensation, they actually go hand in hand. Your employee should have a proper area in which to work as ergonomically as possible. If your employee develops a condition, especially a chronic one like carpal tunnel syndrome, your company is liable for that injury sustained while on the job. Ergonomics are probably the most important things to teach to your telecommuters, because having to pay worker's compensation just because your employee did not sit in his chair properly? Surely this is a waste of time and money, so do your part in making sure your employees are safe at all times. You should also make sure you purchase business insurance to make sure your company is safe as well.

Nicola Stevens
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