When was the last time you worked 9-to-5? Chances are, not for a while. In fact, it’s a safe bet you’ve worked longer hours than 8-to-6 or 7-to-7 recently. Why? Because in today’s connected world, it’s “always on” all the time.
While there is an important debate to be had about the long-term impact this has on our mental health, there is an immediate risk that can’t be ignored (and can arguably cause long-term stress!): cyber breaches. This is particularly true for the two-thirds (65%) of Americans who noted in a recent Chubb survey that they work from home and the additional 38% who reported conducting business on a personal device.
Why the enhanced risk? Most businesses have (relatively) up-to-date cybersecurity safeguards in place for on-site work, but the protections employees use at home or while working remotely are often less robust. In other words, while connecting remotely can provide the flexibility needed to achieve work-life balance, it also carries elevated cyber risk. Consider that Chubb found that very few Americans adhere to the cornerstones of basic cybersecurity practices, with just 35% and 39% using multi-factor authentication and regularly changing their password, respectively.
What should you do to achieve both work-life balance and work-life security, regardless of your profession? Check out my latest column in ThinkAdvisor for information about how to protect your data, as well as how much is at stake in failing to achieve work-life security.
Fran O’Brien is Division President, North America Personal Risk Services, Chubb.
The opinions and positions expressed are the authors’ own and not those of Chubb. The information and/ or data provided herein is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Insurance coverage is subject to the language of the policies as issued.