Winter Weather

November 29, 2017 - You just never know what weather surprises Mother Nature has in store for the winter, so it's best to be as prepared as possible for whatever challenges arise. We all are familiar with some of the problems... blizzards that prevent employees from getting to work (or getting home); power losses that can span days; frozen pipes, flooding or other building damages; and more. If you haven't thought about what you might be facing this winter, these articles can help you figure out where your planning runs short and what you can do about it.

What are the challenges data centers face during the winter weather? (Item #1)  Snowpocalypse, bombogenesis, and the polar vortex... oh my! (Item #2)  Advance preparation can help to mitigate winter weather impacts on your operations and business continuity. (Item #3)

Here are the steps you can take now to prepare for extreme winter weather and mitigate the risks for your business. (Item #4)  Here you find critical information and preparedness tools to assist in protecting your business and the most critical element of your business - your people. (Item #5)  Your winter plans should include the ability to prepare as much as possible in advance with an emergency mass notification system. (Item #6)


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Flu and Business Continuity

November 15, 2017 - Flu season is creeping up on us and that means employees home sick or slowed down at the office by flu symptoms. There does not seem to be any flu pandemic on the near horizon, so at least we don’t have that to worry about this year, but experts seem to think that a pandemic is coming (It is about 100 years since the Spanish flu epidemic killed millions worldwide). We need to ensure that we have plans in place to help prevent the spread of flu in the workplace. But we also need to be thinking long-term and look at how we should update our business continuity plans to help us deal with whatever is ahead.

Experts say the “big one” is coming. (Item #1)  The building is fine but most of your employees are out sick; do you have a plan for this? (Item #2)  What happens if we have a bad flu season and employers find themselves struggling to maintain business as usual? (Item #3)

While there is no specific flu pandemic threatening at the moment, a serious outbreak of even run-of-the-mill winter flu can threaten your business. (Item #4)  Here are five ways to prevent the flu from spreading at your office. (Item #5)  No matter what your role, you can pitch in to keep the flu on permanent vacation this season. (Item #6)


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Holiday Parties

November 8, 2017 - With Christmas less than 50 days away, many employers' thoughts turn to holiday parties. At first glance, you might say, "What do holiday parties have to do with business continuity?" But think about it... many of the holiday activities both in the workplace and outside it can create risky situations (food poisoning, sexual harassment, drunken driving) that might end in liability for your company. And liabilities can endanger your bottom line. This week's articles were chosen to help you avoid potentially litigious and unsafe situations.

You can help minimize the risks associated with holiday parties by following these five tips. (Item #1)   Does alcohol drinking mix safely with work events? (Item #2)   Here's what some creative companies are doing to celebrate the holidays with their employees. (Item #3)

Employers must be sensitive to the religious beliefs of their employees and create more flexible celebrations to include all of them. (Item #4)   if you're not treating your holiday party as a serious risk management responsibility, you're asking for trouble. (Item #5)   Sexual misconduct has no place at office holiday parties and can have grave consequences for individuals and organizations. (Item #6)


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After a Disaster...

November 1, 2017 - Most of us have planned carefully for all the things that can go wrong and have plans in place to mitigate the effects of various disasters. But have you thought about the period after the disaster is over? Do you know what you are going to do to overcome the challenge of insufficient funding while the business gets back on its feet? What about recovering records? And getting employees back to work if the workplace is gone? This week’s articles might help you consider what must be done right after the disruption but before things are back to whatever passes for normal at that point.

Here are 10 recovery actions you must take after a disaster. (Item #1)  Here are three things your business can take care of now to prepare for a natural disaster and get back up and running quickly.  (Item #2)  There are some steps you can take to help start the recovery process after a disaster. (Item #3)

One important thing to consider when doing business disaster planning is how to store and recover your business records. (Item #4)   Given these three imperatives --- ethical, compliance, and E&O liability --- and the mounting threat of extreme weather, what should professionals do to strengthen their existing business continuity plans? (Item #5)   To avoid or lessen downtime in today's modern world, businesses need to prepare in ways that involve both human and technological response. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.