Winter Weather

Whether you're in the northeast, the midwest or the south, winter weather of one kind or another can disable your business, costing you money and lost productivity. Planning now will help you weather the storms of winter that we know are just ahead (some places already have experienced heavy snow and ice). This week's articles will show you how planning helped last winter and some of the things to think about for the upcoming winter.

Public and private sector players had detailed plans in place, optimized from lessons learned in past storms which helped to minimize the disruption to the more than 50 million people in Winter Storm Jonas' path. (Item #1)   Now is the ideal time to create a weather contingency plan to prevent next year's weather from affecting your bottom line. (Item #2)   Severe winter storms serve as an important reminder for businesses to evaluate how they can achieve business continuity when extreme winter weather renders their primary facilities inaccessible. (Item #3)

Even if your office building is open during winter storms, can your employees get there? (Item #4)   If telecommuting is part of your winter weather preparedness plan, make sure you have a program in place and employees know what is expected of them. (Item #5)   Make sure all of your building's systems are ready and able to handle winter weather. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

The Flu and Your Business

According to the CDC, it's not possible to predict what this flu season will be like. While flu spreads every year, they say, the timing, severity, and length of the season varies from one year to another. Flu season starts around this time of year and peaks from December to March, but now, while there is no serious epidemic, is the time to do something about it. The National Institutes of Health estimates that the flu costs $7 billion per year in sick days and lost productivity. And workers report their productivity decreases by half when powering through the flu at work. This week's articles are aimed at helping prevent infection and spreading the flu.

Getting an annual flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. (Item #1)   Here are 10 steps you can take to help prevent the spread of flu where you work. (Item #2)   No matter what your role, you can pitch in to keep the flu on permanent vacation this season by doing these things. (Item #3)

Take these steps now to keep your office running during a flu outbreak.  (Item #4)   Preventing or mitigating the risk of a flu outbreak in your office mission-critical. (Item #5)   Can an employer adopt a mandatory flu vaccine policy and fire employees who don't get a flu shot? (Item #6)

For the full issue, click here.

Holiday Issues

Don't panic, but Christmas is only 46 days away, and it's likely your holiday party or other activities will occur during that time. Are you having a party? Sponsoring some sort of charity activity? Whatever you do, you certainly don't want anything that happens to result in legal actions against the organization. This week's articles provide answers to how to handle various aspects of the holiday gathering and how to avoid problems.

Here are some simple things your company can do to foster a warm and friendly culture between coworkers all while contributing positively to people in need. (Item #1)   As a result of a lot of research, specific low-risk drinking guidelines have been created to minimize the negative impact of alcohol use. (Item #2)   The following article offers some guidelines from the Society for Human Resource Management for safe company holiday parties. (Item #3)

Here are the top four reasons you should consider having a holiday party this year.  (Item #4)   To avoid or mitigate the risks associated with holiday parties, you should give some thoughtful consideration to your office holiday party plans. (Item #5)   Here are some top tips for avoiding a New Years' headache from your holiday party. (Item #6)

For the full issue, click here.

After a Disaster...

We talk a lot about preparing for disruptions and disasters, but sometimes we don’t talk enough about what to do after something happens. Perhaps these steps should be included in your business continuity plan. This week’s articles can help you figure out what after disaster should strikes.

Here’s information to help small business owners make post-disaster business decisions. (Item #1)   Chubb offers tips on what to do after a disaster. (Item #2)   Find out what steps you can take to help minimize business losses after a natural disaster.  (Item #3)

Check out these 10 recovery actions you must take after a disaster. (Item #4)   In the wake of a natural disaster, having a business continuity plan and handling your employees with compassion can make the transition back to work much easier and quicker for everyone. (Item #5)   Here are some steps you can take to help you recover and rebuild your business. (Item #6)

For the full issue, click here.