Home Working: Protecting Confidentiality in a Remote Environment

Since the pandemic there has been an increased number of employees who spend time working from home or away from their employer base premises. Due to this, it’s important to consider any risks that may arise.

 

The Benefits of Home Working

Working from home benefits both the employees and employer, some benefits include:

• Reduced office space and overhead costs for employers
• Improved work-life balance and reduced commuting time for employees
• Greater flexibility and productivity

Although there are many benefits to remote working, it is essential that employers continue to maintain appropriate standards of confidentiality and data security.

 

Confidentiality and Data Security

One of the key issues that both employers and employees need to be aware of is confidentiality. It is imperative that any information concerning employers, colleagues, clients, customers or suppliers which is kept outside of the employer’s premises is protected and secured. Therefore, employers must ensure that they have the correct policies in place and that any employees who work from home are aware of and understand all procedures.

 

Employees need to be made aware that it is their responsibility to ensure the security of any information under their possession and that they are not permitted to leave any sources unattended or in an unsecure location. Some employers prohibit or discourage the removal of any paper documents from the employer premises as loss of this could have significant detrimental effects, however it is understood that this is not always feasible.

 

The Importance of a Home Working Policy

It is advised that in your home working policy and in any training, that you ensure employees are aware that they are obligated to ensure that no one who is not authorised is able to gain access to any private and confidential information belonging to the employer.

 

Given the detrimental effects that could occur if an employer loses any confidential data, and the potential data breach, the home working policy should state that failure to adhere to the terms would amount to a disciplinary offence which in suitable cases, may be considered to be gross misconduct.