A new report has suggested that landlords are increasingly banning tenants from working from home.
Whether this is due to insurance reasons, the consideration of other tenants and neighbours, or enhanced costs, landlords appear to be clamping down on remote work – which can cause problems for some employers and employees alike.
With businesses looking to cut costs, many operate via a hybrid or remote working structure.
Whilst this will certainly reduce overheads, employers could now run into recruitment issues if potential candidates are not allowed to work from home.
How the employer handles this situation will vary depending on the nature of the business.
For instance, if the employee handles sensitive data – like client or business information – then working in a public space could leave the business vulnerable to risk.
Public data networks offer a wealth of risks to personal information, as they are more susceptible to phishing attacks. This means that hackers could potentially get their hands on sensitive information and use it to demand a ransom.
We’ve seen hackers pose huge risks to the public, with a data hack on the Northern Irish police force and more recently Ticketmaster, where customers have been warned to be vigilant against identity theft. So, businesses should not overlook just how severe this can be.
There is also the inconvenience of extra distractions when working within a public setting. This can lead to a decrease in the quality and output of work, as a distracting environment can seriously impact performance.
If a business does not have an HQ, then offering a shared working space within a rented office is an option for some businesses. This way, employees have the choice between a professional and personal working space, and data protection is no longer an issue.
Offering a privacy screen means that only the intended recipient can see confidential information on the screen – and no one else. Plus, employers should advise staff to avoid joining any public network that could potentially open the business up to phishing.
If an employee does work within a public setting, then the employer should inform them of their responsibility to protect company data and apparatus. The employee should avoid leaving equipment unattended or sharing it with others, which could yet again put the company at risk.
Although a ban on remote work can be quite frustrating for the employer and employee, both parties must devise a plan to work around the inconvenience.
However, if someone is not able to carry out their working operations, the employer is within their rights to terminate their contract.
