During a business organization’s day-to-day operations, business support groups will encounter various problems, ranging from employee disputes, internal affairs, and pay issues. Although, it’s only natural that these types of issues are to be expected. For a company to grow and develop, it will need to adapt to various crises and problems.
There are issues within and outside the business organization that can be addressed, prevented, and resolved right before they can cause problems. However, there are also problems beyond the organization’s control and reach. While the company’s human resource department can address employee-related disputes and internal affairs, companies can do little to prevent natural disasters.
Even though businesses and establishments can prepare for storms, floodings, and strong winds by reinforcing buildings and making necessary preparations, it’s also important to remember that this will also affect employees. However, the reach of employers and a business’s management is only limited to the workplace and any written agreement between the employee and the company. That said, helping employees during times of natural calamities is easier said than done.
Businesses will need to be creative in formulating strategies and plans when helping the workforce. Natural disasters won’t just affect a business’s productivity but can also put the lives of employees in danger.
So how should a business react and adapt to natural disasters? What can be done to ensure that employees are safe and company assets will still be operational when the calamity is over? Here’s what you’ll need to know.
The Role of Human Resources in Times of Crisis
Often, the best way for a community to mitigate the damage done by natural disasters or any crisis is by working together. Many leaders in a particular organization will usually do everything in their power to deal with emergencies that might impact different facets of society.
Although human resources will usually help the community, it is generally to an extent. Ultimately, the upper management and human resources personnel of a business will need to balance maintaining company assets and help employees in disasters.
Stil, business organizations, should always be prepared to adapt to current weather conditions and environmental hazards by updating plans. Sustainability and business continuity are priorities in times of natural disasters. However, HR departments will also need to keep in mind the safety and security of their workforce. Most management experts would suggest drawing up an outline of a plan with upper management groups.
It’s also important to consider that some businesses will have different branches in other locations. Thus, proper resource allocation and a comprehensive information campaign must serve employees better.
Most companies and businesses will grow over time, making much of the management structure rigid as time goes by. Policies should always be changed to ensure direct contact for other businesses that possess resources for disaster, data, and workforce.
Guiding Employees During the Preparation Process
There will be situations that employees won’t know how to respond to certain conditions. They must be trained by performing exercises and drills for emergency plans. This is a great way of enhancing the effectiveness of safety programs while knowing the current state of preparedness.
It’s essential to know where your employees are currently residing in. Do they live in a low-lying area that’s prone to flooding, rising water, and storms? If this is the case, you will need to give them time and resources to prepare for the calamity. Fortunately, homeowners can utilize hassle-free flood insurance, which can leverage any living difficulties that flooding or any natural disaster might cause.
Adapting and Updating Plans
Business owners and management teams should always take a step back to upgrade their plans regularly. Right before any disasters, the following aspects should be covered:
- Facilities
- Departments that are affected
- Employees from the areas that are affected
The latest emergency contacts should be updated to ensure that employees know where to go. Prevention is better than having to spend thousands to millions of dollars on repairing your facility and replacing damaged equipment.
Damage Assessment
After disasters, businesses can do damage assessments to better look at the root causes of problems for facilities and potential workplace hazards. ; Was the facility flood-proof? Did the structural integrity of your facility hold up when disasters strike? These are just some damages that will need to be assessed right after the disaster.
When it comes to managing disasters, businesses will need to ensure that every aspect of their company is covered. Although many businesses will limit their reach to only their workplace and the shift of employees, it’s still crucial to help employees in need. After all, employees’ safety and security should be the top priority, especially since they are the backbone of the business.
