With the coronavirus crisis fully underway, more and more businesses are having their employees work remotely from home. In the immediate sense, this has the benefit of protecting business owners, employees, customers and clients from exposure to the coronavirus, limiting the spread of the disease. However, there are other potential benefits, as well as risks, that business owners should be aware of as they transition to remote work.
Working remotely, also known as telework, is not a new concept. In fact, the tools that enable working from home have existed for years, including teleconferencing, chat platforms like Slack, and, of course, email. However, most businesses have used these tools primarily as conveniences, or as accommodations for employees with specific circumstances that make it necessary for them to work remotely. What makes this situation unusual is how many businesses are now reliant on these same tools for their day-to-day business as a result of the pandemic.
However, while these tools are both convenient and important for maintaining a business during the coronavirus outbreak, there are some potential risks. The most immediate issue is that employers are necessarily less able to manage their employees from afar, making it difficult to ensure quality and efficiency in work. However, there is also the practical matter that people generally have less cybersecurity at home than they do at work, meaning it’s more likely that sensitive client information can be stolen or corrupted by malware or hackers. Employers may also run into trouble when it comes to OSHA guidelines and insurance requirements, which are often vague when it comes to covering employees working remotely.
The business law attorneys at Blodnick, Fazio & Clark are skilled and knowledgeable in the area of business law and commercial transactions. With offices conveniently located in Garden City, Nassau County, and Babylon, Suffolk County, the firm provides high-quality legal care at reasonable prices. If you require legal assistance concerning business startups, formation, corporate acquisitions and mergers, corporate restructuring, or another business matter, call (516) 280-7105 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
