As firms start to reopen office buildings and other facilities, they will have to develop detailed pandemic management protocols (PMPs) before they can safely ask their employees, customers, and others to return. In addition to health and safety risks, firms must also consider operational as well as privacy and compliance risks. If left unmitigated, these risks will result in legal repercussions, brand vilification, and, ultimately, financial decline.

In a new report, Forrester identified 15 critical risks that businesses must consider as they develop their pandemic recovery plans:

  1. Forced return to work before employees are ready
  2. Workplace discrimination based on age, gender, or health status
  3. Failure to comply with health and safety standards and regulations
  4. Failure to ensure the safety of employees during their entire journey
  5. Partner violations of safe workplace environment
  6. Violation of employees’ privacy rights
  7. Violation of employees’ privacy rights with contact-tracing solutions
  8. Violation of customers’ privacy rights
  9. Stimulus noncompliance
  10. Retaliation against employees who execute their rights
  11. Inability to retain a diverse workforce
  12. Decreased productivity
  13. Backlash to layoffs and cost-cutting measures
  14. Inability to counter increased cyberattacks and insider threats
  15. Failure to track and manage evolving legal and regulatory uncertainty

The full report discusses each risk in detail, and what firms need to do to avoid or mitigate each risk. For more information, please also refer to this blog post: Address Legal, Regulatory, And Operational Risks For The Return To Work.