Protecting Employees in the Era of Hybrid Working

The workplace landscape has irrevocably shifted. Hybrid and remote working models, once temporary solutions, are now the norm across many organisations.

For security teams, this change has significantly altered the risk profile and challenges being faced on a daily basis.

83% of organisations have hybrid working in place

72% of employees express safety concerns when hybrid working

40% of employees think about their safety more than they thought before taking the job

24% of employees would consider leaving a role because of personal safety concerns

83% of employees changed at least one behaviour due to personal safety concerns

23% of employees felt the need to alert someone of their location

New Workplace Risks

Hybrid workers have the highest levels of personal safety concerns. They have the best of both worlds of work but also both sets of risks.

Organisations must strive to understand and address the challenges and safety concerns of a blended remote and on-site working pattern.

Percentage of employees concerned about their safety according to location of work

Lone Working

The rise in lone working, stemming from hybrid work arrangements, has prompted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to broaden the classification of lone workers. Defined as ‘those who operate independently without close or direct supervision’, people who work at home are now categorised as lone workers. Employers therefore have a responsibility to implement control measures to protect homeworkers.

This increase in lone working exposes employees to unexpected illness and injury. Without an immediate means to access help, staff working alone at home may be left helpless in an emergency for an extended period of time.

2. Lack of
Visibility

In traditional office settings, security measures often rely on physical presence, allowing for direct observation of employees, visitors, and potential threats.

Remote work means that physical observation is no longer feasible, making it difficult for employers to monitor, assess and mitigate potential risks.

3. Travel to and From Work

With employees splitting their work time between home and the office, commuting patterns have become less predictable. Managers and security teams may lack clarity regarding employees' office attendance schedules, leading to delays in concerns being raised if they fail to make it to work.

It’s also worth considering non-office based workers who visit clients, customers and service users (e.g. engineers, surveyors, consultants) and may have multiple appointments in a day.

4. Lower Workplace Occupancy

The shift towards hybrid working has resulted in lower workplace occupancy rates and reduced foot traffic, as highlighted by 2023 research conducted by Remit Consulting. This study found that average office occupancy levels have dropped to 34.7%, significantly lower than the pre-pandemic range of 60% to 80%.

With fewer employees on site, it has become more likely for staff to have an accident or medical emergency without anyone nearby to help.