The Workforce of the Future series: Business protection in a Covid-impacted world
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The Covid pandemic has significantly accelerated the advancement of digital technology and flexible working practices within organisations. The modern workplace is moving away from the traditional “nine to five” office commuter model towards hybrid systems, whether part-home, part-office, or full-time remote working.
This working revolution raises various HR, legal and compliance issues for international employers. One key challenge is how best to protect your trade secrets and confidential information in an increasingly connected and knowledge-based global economy and changing workplace environment. Where employees (intentionally or otherwise) act in breach of their duty to protect their employer’s confidential information, whether during or after their period of employment, this runs the risk of significant loss to the employer’s business including competitive disadvantage as well as financial, operational and reputational damage.
The potential economic cost and lost management time of reacting to a contentious situation after such a breach has occurred can be very high. Organisations are better placed if they take proactive steps to protect their business’ trade secrets, guard against employee breach and avoid disputes where possible. Protecting business in this way has always been high on the agenda of HR, legal and compliance teams, but is receiving renewed focus in the pandemic period. This article, produced by our International Employment and Intellectual Property experts Tim Spillane, Seow Hui Goh, Rob Williams, Kristy Peacock-Smith, Diana Purdy, Artur-Konrad Wypych, Rob Briggs and Toby Bond, will look at the changing workplace environment, key areas of protection and practical steps for employers to guard their key business interests.
Watch Rob Briggs, Senior Associate, talk about business protection in a Covid-impacted world.
Watch Diana Purdy, Consultant, talk about business protection in a Covid-impacted world.
