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Website by: Jared Warner

SOUTHWEST OHIO PUBLIC HEALTH REGION

Clear communication with your employees will be vital to sustaining your organization during an emergency. Involve employees in the planning process, and be sure to share information with employees on business continuity issues. It is important that employees are familiar with company policies in various situations. For example, if a quarantine is issued, the health department may instruct large businesses to limit operations and face-to-face employee interaction. Do employees understand that they will not be penalized for following these quarantine issues?

Employee involvement in business planning also encourages them to establish a plan for their family. If an employee knows their family is prepared and supplied for a disaster, they will be more willing to report for work. In some cases, employees may be able to work effectively from home. These and other issues should be addressed.

Employee Involvement

Many businesses take time to develop plans and projections for growth, detailed spending plans, investment plans, and a variety of other carefully developed plans to help the business succeed. Unfortunately, many businesses overlook the business continuity/continuity of operations plan. In times of emergency, whether natural or manmade, businesses with contingency plans and developed protocols will be better prepared to respond and recover quickly, helping the business remain afloat, and helping the community return to normal.

This planning process can be lengthy, and involves risk assessments, prioritization of operations, alternate location identification, chain of command guidelines, and a variety of other issues.

Do your part to prepare your business, protect your employees, and help your community. Develop a business continuity plan. For organizations and resources that can help your business prepare for emergency, visit the following links:

Michigan State University: Critical Incident Protocol

Ready.gov: Sample Business Continuity and Disaster Preparedness Plan

Federal Financial Institution Examination Council: Business Continuity Plan

Plans and Preparation

An emergency can strike without warning, destroying homes and businesses, cutting off utilities and supplies, and threatening the continued operation of your business. In order to be better prepared for these scenarios, the public health jurisdictions of SW Ohio have provided some basic information to help sustain your business during an emergency.

For business preparedness information, see the following links:

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry

Ready.gov: Ready Business

Business Preparedness