Britain's small business bosses strive to protect workforce

Mar 14, 2013 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Despite bulging inboxes, bosses at Britain's small businesses are making time to look after their staff, with employee welfare listed as the number one health and safety priority. And the signs are that bosses aren't having to spend a fortune to keep employees safe with the majority (two thirds) spending less than GBP500 a year to keep their workforce safe, according to a study carried out by TalkTalk Business.

However, Britain's conscientious bosses are the first to recognise that things aren't perfect with three out of four small business owners recognising that employees who use the internet are subjected to potentially offensive material on a weekly basis.

TalkTalk Business carried out the study to mark the launch of WorkSafe, a new security and website filtering service, after recognising its SME customers needed a solution to the problem. WorkSafe is designed to empower small business bosses to help safeguard staff and is included at no extra cost with the TalkTalk Business' broadband service.

Charles Bligh, managing director of TalkTalk Business, commented: "While we absolutely understand that security is just one of the many issues small business owners have to deal with on a daily basis, it's significant that 65% of small business owners recognise that their computer network isn't properly secure. This issue is at the root of many of these problems and leaves unprotected employees open to receiving online content that they may offensive and, at the same time, it also allows employees to access unapproved sites when they are being paid to work.

"It's a situation which has the potential to cause real headaches for small business owners, so we felt it was important that we provide a practical tool which empowers employers to tackle the situation quickly and easily.

"WorkSafe is intended to allow employers to do this by offering similar protection as our domestic equivalent -- HomeSafe -- which has been successfully safeguarding families across the country since last year. Just as we believe parents shouldn't worry that their children will access inappropriate or offensive material at home, it's important to us that employers can also play their part and protect their workforce as they browse the internet." Charles added: "We absolutely understand that small business owners are looking for value for money, particularly at the moment, which is why we are including WorkSafe to broadband customers at no extra cost. It's a practical solution which both removes the need for time intensive policing of employee's online activity and respects employee's privacy." For more information on the survey please contact, Gemma, Steve or Kate via ttb@lucre.co.uk or call 0113 243 1117.

ABOUT WORKSAFE: Offered to broadband customers at no extra cost, WorkSafe offers protection from offensive material and malicious codes. Account holders are able to turn on protection from infected websites and select categories of website to block all the time or during business hours. All devices connected to the broadband line, from server, to laptop to tablet and smartphone will be instantly and automatically protected and with no software to install. Built into TalkTalk'sGBP600m next generation network, WorkSafe will deliver significant financial savings for users, whilst reducing pressure on IT resources.

talktalkbusiness.co.uk\worksafe NOTES TO EDITORS: - TalkTalk Business (formerly known as Opal) provides communications solutions to UK organisations, serving the needs of over 180,000 business and public sector customers and working with over 350 wholesale partners nationwide.

- The company has been dedicated to serving the needs of its customers across the UK since 1993.

- TalkTalk Business provides a full range of communications products including Access, Mobile, Call Handling Solutions, IP Telephone Systems, IT Networking & Security and Wholesale Business Broadband (L2TP).

- Following an investment of over GBP600M, TalkTalk Business has designed, built and now operates Britain's biggest Next Generation Network, with over 90% coverage across the UK.

((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.com on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com.

[ Back To Technology News's Homepage ]