More subconsciously, managers are asking themselves: “How do I manage this?”

Commercial risk expert Natalie Fox, a director of Perth-based consultancy RiskAdvisor, is similarly focused on a more holistic management approach versus the standard risk register.

It’s all about engagement

“We shouldn’t be overthinking the challenge being faced, she says. It is an issue about effective communication,” Ms Fox said.

“At the end of the day it’s all about engagement with the workforce whether they are in the office or at home.”

“In terms of identifying the risk, it’s about understanding what sort of people your employees are, what work they are undertaking at home, the hours they work, and whether their home is the right work environment.”

Natalie explains that the onus on de-risking the environment is on the manager and how good they are at managing their team.

Managerial caliber

“A lot is dependent on the caliber of the manager and whether he or she can establish a relationship with staff that is open and transparent.

“There needs to be quality conversation about the expectations and the employee needs to put parameters in place about what is work versus what is home time.”

Natalie says a lot hinges on how managers personally feel about isolated, autonomous work habits.

“Some are innately skeptical and think their employees are skiving off. Others take the time to understand their people better and can see that their output is appropriate – if not exceptional.”

She says that the opportunity for every manager now is to have a conversation with their employees about what their personal home workplace should look like and how they feel about working in it.

“They need to be asking employees if they have a home office that allows the quiet time to concentrate or take a call. They need to gauge whether the individual’s mental health can cope with working independently.”

Everyone is different

GIO Workers Insurance Executive Manager, Llewellyn Jones, an expert on workers compensation in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, echoes these comments.

“Employers need to create a consultative structure to ensure remote workers stay connected,” Mr Jones said.

“The first step companies can take is to conduct a risk assessment of the working environment at home and use a checklist: Do you have a designated area for working at home? Does it conform to office ergonomic considerations? What hours are being worked?”

He advises that Worksafe WA provide tools that can be downloaded to complete these types of assessments.

The rise in psychological risk

Like Natalie, Llewellyn also recommends that employers focus on the psychological risks and how these can be avoided.

“When COVID first began we assumed there would be a few physical incidents in the house. Secondly, we were worried about mental health issues arising from people not feeling connected.

To minimise these problems, he says employers need to create structures that ensure remote workers stay connected.

Timetables for talking

“It may be necessary to set up a timetable for regular communication. A big piece is ensuring that there is a system which keeps people connected to the workplace and helps mitigate psycho-social risks.”

Support mechanisms like Employee Assist Programs (EAP) should not be forgotten and employers should not be reticent about calling in independent counsellors, he says.

In terms of workers compensation claims Llewellyn says not much has changed.

Workers compensation largely unchanged

“Work has to have significantly contributed to the incident for a compensable claim. The employee must prove the incident occurred either during a working period at home or in the office or in some way was directed by their employer,” Mr Jones said.

“The only change is that a lot of businesses are instructing staff to work from home without having completed all the necessary risk assessment that would normally apply.

“Important to remember the legislation makes the employer responsible to provide a safe system of work and workplace be it in the home or the office. In terms of how companies are coping in WA, the signs are positive.”

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“Panic is a natural reaction,” says Natalie Fox, Managing Director of Perth based national commercial consultancy RiskAdvisor.

Perth commercial risk expert Natalie Fox, who recently was part of the team that managed the latest infection at a CBD quarantine hotel, offers insights on how companies can effectively manage if the situation does occur.

“Panic is a natural reaction,” says Natalie Fox, Managing Director of Perth based national commercial consultancy RiskAdvisor.

“All the planning and preparation that has been established so thoroughly during the past month, immediately gets forgotten in the first few moments when the realisation is we have a live case.

“And that’s okay because, as we all know, the past few months have been completely uncharted and new territory for us all.”

In Western Australia, companies across all sectors have gained an advantage on their East Coast counterparts given the State has so far recorded a lower infection rate from the virus.

This has seen a great percentage of the workforce gradually start to reintegrate into the office environment.

Natalie believes that keeping business risk plans simple with a strong focus on clear and ongoing communication are the most important elements.

“We saw that when the worst case does occur, instantly the recourse is to say, what do we do?”

The conversations we’re regularly having with executives and HR managers is how their company can regain some form of control over the situation.

“Each time we’ve had the same answer – develop an agile and relevant business continuation plan.”

Dan O’Regan, Managing Director of insurance brokerage firm RiskCorp Insurance Brokers, agrees that contingency planning is paramount and gives companies more influence to proactively assess where their risks are.

“Risk comes in many forms,” said Dan.

“Companies that embrace their commercial exposure actually have more control over their growth.” 

“In every operation, no matter what size or industry sector you’re from, there are insurable and non-insurable risks. From cyber to operation and financial, everyone has risks and different levels of exposure.

“In the past, the focus has been very much on health, safety and environment but the new normal now goes so far beyond that. 

“What companies are learning is that by proactively identifying where their commercial vulnerabilities are, gives them greater power to control a situation.”

Both Natalie and Dan agree, the only way to effectively achieve that is to invest time to identify and prioritise potential risks.

“There are so many developments happening at both a legislative and policy level, so businesses are facing continual change when it comes to factors that can have an impact,” Dan said.

“The best approach is to group your risks into categories – from digital and cyber to operational, financial, and environment and safety – creating a foundation to understand what the potential impacts will be.”

Natalie, who continues to advise companies both in high-risk environments and those charting their return to work strategies, has the final word.

“Companies need to make this situation an opportunity, use the lessons from COVID-19 to map and create a robust business continuity plan – that way you’re in a stronger position if a similar scenario happens again in the future,” she said.

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