Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention Week, this year October 5-11, has been observed since 1922 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred Oct. 8-9 in 1871. An even larger fire occurred on the same day -- the Peshtigo Fire, the most devastating forest fire in American history. The fire prevention campaign now lasts all of October, so you have plenty of time to check your evacuation and other safety plans and, most important, to practice them, as well as to make any updates necessary. And please, share this info with your employees so they can make plans at home.

All the facts you wanted to know about fire... and some you didn't. (Item #1)   Make sure everyone at home knows what to do in case of fire. (Item #2)   Fire safety practices can save jobs. (Item #3)

Being proactive and implementing simple fire prevention plans and programs can reduce the likelihood of experiencing a fire in the workplace. (Item #4)   You no doubt have fire extinguishers in your building, but do your employees know how to use them? (Item #5)   This item provides good information on evacuating during a fire; it could help save lives. (Item #6)


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Terrorism

With most of the world concerned about the terrorist threat of ISIS/ISIL (*--see below), we should revisit the potential for terrorist attacks that impact our organizations directly or indirectly. In today’s world, terrorism is incredibly more complex than in the pre- or post-9/11 world. Several of this week’s articles describe the face of terrorism in 2014, as well as the likelihood of terrorist acts in the UK and the US.

U.S. officials now see ISIS as a credible threat, on a par with al Qaeda. (Item #1)   American intelligence agencies are working on a thorough assessment of the strength of ISIS. (Item #2)   How to be prepared for a terrorist attack. (Item #3)

The terrorism danger is more complex than ever, NY intelligence officials believe. (Item #4)   Peter Power looks at how the UK terrorism threat is changing and what business continuity managers can do to ensure their organization is prepared. (Item #5)   The most bloodthirsty terrorist group in memory is also a canny manipulator of social media. (Item #6)


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* We’ve heard ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) or the Islamic State, depending on which official or network you listen to. The Washington Post discusses the politics of these different names for the same group of terrorists at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/09/09/isis-vs-isil-vs-islamic-state-the-political-importance-of-a-much-debated-acronym/#  
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Employee Issues

Yes, employees are one of your most valuable assets, but they also can be a source of legal problems for an employer. Hiring, firing, and other issues all hold the potential for trouble if you aren’t aware of how to go about them in the best way. This week we look at some employee issues that can cause problems and what you can do to navigate the minefield of those issues.

Employee relations involves all aspects of an employee’s relationship with an employer. (Item #1)   Small companies aren't immune from workplace behavior problems. (Item #2)   If you have determined that there is a need to monitor employees’ computer usage, you need to know the legal risks. (Item #3)

What companies don’t know about a job applicant can hurt them. (Item #4)   You can fire employees legally and ethically. (Item #5)   Sooner or later, every employer will face the need to investigate one or more of its employees. (Item #6)

As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If you have a topic you’d like to see covered, please email me at bmellinger@attainium.net


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Online Reputation Management

What are people saying about your organization online? If you don’t know, you should. Monitoring your online presence is one of the key steps in managing your online corporate reputation. We all know how important a company’s reputation is, but many of us don’t do enough to ensure that our corporate reputations remain intact. This week’s articles can help you boost your online reputation management activities.

Develop a system to monitor your reputation and take action when necessary to keep it stellar; in the end it will be worth the time and effort. (Item #1)   Knowing how the online world works is the first step toward improving an online reputation. (Item #2)   By following this simple list of tips you can put your business in a stronger position if or when someone decides to write a negative comment or review. (Item #3)

What people are saying online about your brand -- the good, the bad and the oftentimes inaccurate -- makes all the difference when it comes to winning or losing customers. (Item #4)    Your business’ online reputation might be worth its weight in heavy gold; when it takes a hit, it can be so searingly painful that recovery becomes a slow and groggy process. (Item #5)   Here’s how eight companies successfully handled threats to their corporate reputations. (Item #6)


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