It’s not always greener on the other side

Freelancers, home-workers, remote workers or lone workers; whatever terminology we use, we can’t deny that this is becoming an increasingly larger part of the employment community.

While remote workers may have many beneficial attributes for a companies’ bottom line (notably a decrease in real-Estate costs), there is also a potential financial risk for companies associated with remote workers. For channel partners, the risk could affect potential customers but it could also impact their own business.

Increasingly, tens of thousands of lone workers are abused, attacked or victims of an accident in the UK every year (more than 160 attacks take place on lone workers in the UK every day *) and those particularly at risk are employees carrying out jobs where social contact with the general public is commonplace. This summer’s UK riots have put the spotlight on the risks for employees in general.

Additionally, lone workers can also be away from their base at remote locations and many construction workers, maintenance, repair and cleaning workers, estate agents and security staff fall into this category. Then there are sales, delivery and the large numbers of social workers, home helps and community nurses who visit residential addresses on their own.

Aside from the physical risks to an individual lone worker, compelling financial risk to an organisation also means it has never been more important to make suitable provision for staff. Health & Safety legislation breaches eliciting considerable fines and the new Corporate Manslaughter & Corporate Homicide legislation leave any organisation deemed guilty open to huge fines and potentially catastrophic brand-equity damage. Customers will be looking to channel partners to advise them on how to respond to this new regulation and adapt to new requirements.