As of today, there are over 300 000 cases of Covid-19 confirmed across 195 countries. This number keeps growing rapidly every day as the virus spreads to all corners of the world. We have taken a global and unexpected turn in the early months of 2020 that will affect the way we live and work in an altered economy. The deadly Coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, and quickly spread to the current European hotspots including Italy, Spain, and Germany.
The US is also suffering massive losses due to the virus outbreak as people are losing jobs and businesses are shutting down. Besides inevitable health concerns, people are dealing with financial consequences and a complete change of lifestyle. The lucky ones who get to work from home during this difficult time will have to adjust to remote operations, which can last up to months if not even years after the outbreak. Here’s how working remotely after Covid-19 could affect workers and businesses globally.
The Benefits of Working Remotely During Quarantine
Most countries in the world are taking serious measures to prevent the spreading of deadly Covid-19. Some of those measures include movement restrictions, self-quarantines, and strict lockdowns. With workers unable to commute to work, businesses had to adjust to the unexpected situation by allowing their employees to work remotely from home.
Working from home comes with plenty of benefits such as the freedom to create your own schedule and the ability to spend more time with one’s family. During the period of social distancing where close human contact is not allowed, employees will have to get their work done away from the office and their co-workers. The ability to work remotely allows employees to stay at home and avoid exposure to the virus, which can cause serious and even fatal consequences.
The Downside of This Scenario
While quarantine and remote working sound like a convenient solution to this global issue, most people who have found themselves in this situation are not used to working from home. While it sounds easy and relaxing, working from home can often be more challenging than working in an office environment. People who are not familiar with the challenges of remote working will find themselves losing focus and lacking productivity after a few weeks of quarantine.
Businesses that allow remote working will also face a number of security risks if they don’t take the right measures in time. Without an IT or security team overlooking the network, it will be difficult to keep track of potential threats and data breaches. Employees will be using different networks to access company sites and confidential data, which will increase the risk of exposure and malicious attacks. Moreover, remote workers will have to use personal devices to log into administrative networks, which opens up more opportunities for hackers to jump in.
Make the Best Out of Quarantine Work Hours
The Covid-19 quarantine has forced many businesses to allow remote working, even though they never planned to take such measures. We have entered a difficult period that might bring significant consequences not only to families and individuals but also to businesses and large corporations.
To make the best out of the quarantine work hours, employees should work on their organization skills and dedicate a clear environment to work only. Business owners and team managers, on the other hand, must act fast and make sure all their employees are aware of potential security risks tied to working remotely. Consider setting up security training via online networks to educate your employees about safety measures and potential threats lurking online.
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