5 Reasons Why Businesses Need to Prepare for Pandemics
We’re still seeing the impacts pandemics such as COVID-19 can have on businesses. From supply chain disruptions to decreased customer demand, the effects of a pandemic can be far-reaching and long-lasting. Businesses can protect their employees, customers, and their bottom line by taking the time to prepare. Here are five reasons your business needs to be ready for the next pandemic.
Employee Health: In our interconnected world, businesses must consider how they’ll keep employees healthy and respond when sick employees show up to work. Businesses have a critical role to play in protecting employees and preventing the spread of disease.
Remote Work: When a major disease outbreak occurs, absenteeism can skyrocket. That’s why you need to have a plan in place for employees to work remotely, minimizing the impact of absent workers. It’s a good idea to have trial runs of remote work to practice using the technology and to adjust to the remote environment.
Supply Chain Disruptions: A reduced workforce and travel restrictions can severely impact your business’s supply chain. Anticipating and planning for supply chain disruptions is key to minimizing the impact on operations. Depending on the type of business, this plan may be simple or it could be a massive undertaking for more logistics-heavy operations.
Changes in Consumer Habits: In times of crisis, people tend to avoid public places. In the case of Covid-19, we saw the impact of various levels of lockdowns. Industries like travel, tourism, and leisure can be disproportionately affected. Many businesses were forced to rethink business travel and try remote meetings instead.
Legal Compliance: Preparing for a pandemic also means complying with laws and regulations related to emergency preparedness required by agencies such as OSHA, CMS, local fire departments, etc. Failure to comply can result in penalties and legal action.
Don’t wait for the next pandemic to hit before taking action. Prepare now to protect employees, customers, and operations during a pandemic. Steps such as: (1) staying informed about the laws and regulations that apply to your industry; (2) having a well-written and comprehensive emergency preparedness plan in place; (3) regularly reviewing and updating your plan; and (4) consulting with emergency preparedness experts can ensure that your business is ready for the next pandemic. It’s time to take action and be prepared for the unexpected. When it comes to pandemics, the only thing we can be sure of is that they are unpredictable and inevitable.
Ready.gov is a great resource for preparedness planning for businesses: https://www.ready.gov/business
