With advancing computer and Internet technologies, combined with a more comfortable work-life balance, working from home has never been more tantalizing.

However, while your telecommuting employee is on the clock, you will be liable for accidents that occur in your employee’s home office (e.g., trips and falls, repetitive stress injuries, etc.), an environment where you have little control. You also need to be concerned about privacy and data security issues. It’s generally a good idea—and your responsibility—to have your telecommuting employee’s home office set up and inspected by professionals, as well as provide your employee with guidelines for working hours.

Before an official home-office inspection, you and your work-at-home employee should consider the following questions about his or her proposed work place:

• Is electrical and phone wiring safe, surge protected and out of a walkway?
• Are smoke detectors and other safety equipment properly installed and working?
• Are files adequately protected?
• What about the employee’s computer? Is there anti-virus software installed, and are firewalls being used?
• Are chairs and other equipment ergonomically constructed?

It’s also a good idea to re-inspect your employees’ home periodically throughout the year, and to remind them that, even though they are at home, breaks are important, and they should get up and stretch or walk around several times during the work day to prevent strain and injury.

Still unsure about liability and telecommuting? Call us today, and we’ll help you weigh the pros and cons of allowing employees to telecommute, and we’ll make sure you’re adequately covered in the case of an accident.