Unless you are a soldier deployed in a war affected zone, you don’t expect to meet safety challenges in your routine workday. As bad as it is, the assumption is being challenged even small and medium sized businesses as well as sprawling enterprises.
Right from cyber security to workplace bullying and harassment, there are all kinds of real risks that can bring down the levels of safety at your workplace.
In such a situation, you have to ask yourself – what can I do as a leader to keep my business and my employees secure. In this guide, I will cover 4 risks, and their remedies.
1- Safety from scam calls
Social engineering and phishing practices particularly target individuals working in thriving businesses, often with an attempt to steal business information, or trick the victim into making payments to the scammers’ accounts on false pretexts.
In spite of the widespread cognizance about such kind of scams, it’s surprising how many people continue to fall prey to these. That’s partially because of the fact that scammers keep on inventing new ways to use technology to dupe people.
As a business leader, make sure you implement means and methods that help your employees become aware. For starters, ask them to:
- Complete at least one mandatory course related to basic information security knowledge
- Encourage them to check callers’ numbers if they deem them suspicious
- Communicate clear means and channels for them to report potential scam calls
- Include summaries of such instances in your internal memos and newsletters.
2- Get Travel Insurance
Domestic and international travels are a reality of the modern business setup.
Theft of anything from luggage, phone, purse, to camera, personal belongings and crucial documents is devastating for anyone, even more so for your employees travelling to perform business duties.
Plus, there are risks of health problems, cancelled or delayed flights, etc. This makes business travel insurance a must, not only for yourself, but also for your employees. While working with travel insurance providers, keep these points in mind.
- Negotiate with the insurer for insurance policies that match well with the profile of potential travelers.
- Enquire about the potential tax credit advantages that are to be availed in the capacity of an employer that takes responsibility of its employees’ travels.
- Look for peripheral services such as immigration guidance, cultural guides for cross-continent travelers, and visa acquisition counseling.
- Choose plans that provide health insurance coverage outside home country
3- Identify and Eliminate Potential Workplace Hazards
You won’t know them till they wreak havoc. Till then, you’ll continue believing that your workspace is completely safe and secure. However, every office has several potential hazards, hidden in plain sight.
Cleaners working with heavy equipment, mechanics operating heavy machinery, construction workers with exposed heavy and sharp tools, or warehouses with stack after stack of precariously arranged heavy boxes – it could be anything. To make sure you don’t have to learn the lessons the hard way, arrange routine hazard identification audits by conducting floor walks.
4- Conduct Evacuation Drills
Even if the state where your business operates doesn’t require you to arrange mandatory evacuation drills, do so.
You just don’t know when a panic situation could erupt and cause stampede-like situations in congested office spaces.
Anything from a bee attack to a fire accident could cause such unfortunate occurrences.
Fire safety drills and evacuation drills, apart from communicating clearly designated safe refuge areas for employees – that’s how you remain prepared to face unsavory instances.
Final Thoughts
Chances are that you did not think beyond basic insurance and fire extinguishers to keep your business and employees safe. This guides helps you look beyond, and prepare for ‘unlucky’ days.
