Human Resources Workforce Disaster Plan for the H1N1 Pandemic
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H1N1, formerly known as swine flu, has been in the news for a few months. It was thought to have stabilized, but it appears this may not be the case. Long story short, it looks like the world is going to be hit by a pandemic. This means many sick people and many people who care for sick family members. What this means for your business is that you need to prepare now!
Tips on preparation
If your business doesn’t have a disaster recovery plan, now is the time to get one. For now let’s assume there is a pandemic. You’ll need to do a couple of things to prepare.
- Review the license policy – make sure you have one and that it is clear. If you are a small business, you need a license manual and policy.
- Cross Train: Find out who has working features that are not backed up. Anyone who performs a function you can’t afford to live without needs a backup. Going one step further, you need to have a backup plan for each critical function in your organization.
- Quarantine: Are there job functions that can work remotely for a short time? Take advantage of technology to allow people to work remotely. In a quarantine situation, the fewer places a person has to visit, the less likely they are to come into contact with someone who is contagious. Also, if someone has to take time off work to care for a sick relative, it would be helpful if they could perform some of their job duties outside of the office.
- Backup plan: What outside resources can you use to run your business in the event of an outbreak in your office? By that I mean that you can maintain operations with a significantly reduced operation? Do you have a continuity plan that includes a temporary staff service in case of disasters? One who knows your business and can provide short-term help? What is your plan if your city/area goes into lockdown? Do you have clear lines of authority and job descriptions in the event of a disaster? Make your backup plans for now.
The point is to prepare now. Make those contingency agreements now so when the time comes you can be prepared. It could save your business. Remember that people are your most important asset. Make sure you have them in place and that they know their responsibilities in a crisis and you will have a better chance of your business surviving.