Digitalization makes a lot of new things possible and working in home office is a major aspect of this. Supporters and sceptics agree that employees working from home require a lot of self-discipline and a sense of responsibility. The set-up also presupposes trust on the employer’s part. If these conditions are met, clear rules are also needed – as well as the right insurance cover. Here is a summary of the most important points:
Make Agreements
If you allow your employees to work from home, you should check your working time regulations and adapt them where necessary. In addition, individual agreements should be made regarding the devices and equipment provided and the time spent working from home. Employees agree to set up a work area at home that allows undisturbed work and to ensure that they can be reached.
Social Insurance
Home office makes no difference in terms of social insurance for employees whose place of residence and place of work are both in Switzerland. By contrast, cross-border commuters must take care not to work from home for more than 25% of their working hours. Otherwise they become subject to their home country’s social insurance system.
Accident Insurance
Anyone who works from home is insured against accidents in the rooms they use for work, just as they are in the company. If an employee works more than eight hours per week, accidents outside of these rooms are also covered by non-occupational accident insurance.
Loss Of Or Damage To Mobile Devices
Theft of or damage to work equipment, such as laptops or mobile phones, can happen very quickly despite taking every precaution. Remember that neither private household contents insurance nor liability insurance will pay out here because the devices do not belong to the employee. They normally fall under the employer’s commercial insurance. However, this insurance often only applies at the address of the company. In consultation with insurance experts, you as the employer should therefore check whether your current insurance coverage also applies outside of your business address or whether supplementary insurance is a sensible option.
Data Protection And Cyber Risks
Employers must take the necessary precautions to ensure data protection and data security when employees work from home. In terms of IT security, guaranteeing the required remote access is often the biggest challenge for SMEs. At the same time, cybercriminals are specifically exploiting the current situation, as working from home is still a new situation for many employees. The Swiss national government’s Reporting and Analysis Centre for Information Assurance (MELANI) has put together guidelines for companies and for employees working from home, which detail how these risks can be minimized. It is advisable to take out cyber insurance in order to protect yourself from financial consequences or losses as a result of data manipulation or loss of data. Employees can be held accountable only if they have demonstrably acted negligently.
