Changing Concerns for Employees in a Highly Connected World and What That Means for Employers
By: Kristin Lewis, Strategy & Product Management Leader at Aura
Since 2019, Americans have lost more money annually to online crime than to home burglaries, and total losses are growing exponentially. Last year, losses totaled $10.3 billion, with 1 in 4 Americans reporting they have experienced some kind of digital crime in the last 12 months[1]. The numbers are shocking, but when you think about the critical role that technology plays in every aspect of employees’ lives, the risk shouldn’t actually be that surprising. My job requires me to be connected throughout the day, using my company-issued devices on my home network. As a mother of two screen-time loving boys, my kids require constant supervision. And, to top it off, I frequently act as the IT-department for my networked, but aging parents. One thing that I’ve noticed, both through my role at Aura and my responsibilities at home, is that the threats we’re facing online seem to be getting smarter. More targeted. More effective. With easy access to AI tools like ChatGPT, attacks are getting more convincing and more sophisticated. And the attempts to break in or catch you off-guard are relentless. It feels like it's only a matter of time before someone in my family will fall victim. I know I’m not alone in this stress.
1 Javelin Proprietary Data. 2023 Identity Fraud Study
The Impact of Digital Crime on Employee WellBeing Falling victim to online crime such as scams, fraud, or identity theft can have an incredibly detrimental effect on employee well-being, and the data shows it. 54% of people report experiencing moderate to extreme feelings of anxiety or stress following a scam and 1 in 5 of those who have fallen victim to an online scam say they struggle to focus after the incident. That's why providing access to holistic online protection for employees can also protect your company. According to MetLife’s 2021 U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study, 51% of employees say that employers should play a greater role in the safety and protection of employees and their families. Further, once an identity theft solution is made available to employees, employers see immediate benefits: 80% of employees report an improved opinion of their employer 90% of employees state that they are more invested in their company’s cybersecurity protocols. And, finally, in the event that the employee or someone in their family does fall victim to online crime, 89% of those impacted remain engaged at work.
