Pandemic Response
Be prepared
As events in 2020 and 2021 showed with the spreading of the Coronavirus (Covid-19), disruption to society at large, including, but not limited to work environment, can take place quickly with sudden, devastating impacts to whole business sectors. It is important to be able to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from the effects of such outbreaks. In such an emergency it is important to:
Be alert â not alarmed;
Stakeholders, Contractors and Staff to work together;
Communicate;
Be aware of any Team issues and respond early (be mindful that our Team members have responsibilities outside of work as a result of pandemic)
Reinforce that personal hygiene is always important (keep a supply of hand sanitiser handy and available to staff and clients);
Reinforce requirement for safe spaces;
Keep an eye on our legal landscape;
Keep current with latest information from government experts â they are RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY SOURCES.
Other points to consider
In event of pandemic there are many matters requiring consideration and these include:
Open plan office management and appropriate spacing;
Facilities cleaning
Avoid face to face meetings where possible;
Single use consumables;
Review travel;
Keep a strong focus on cyber security activity;
Revisit IT disaster recovery plans and reliance;
Check HR policies to ensure work from home and leave policies are sympathetic. Keep up to date with possible government assistance packages;
Reassure staff it is ok to be at home sick or with sick people;
Make sure financiers (and other stakeholders) understand our situation and what we are doing to manage it;
Review and confirm key contracts and understand force majeure impacts;
Check insurance policies in case they need to respond.
It is important to be in control when such an issue arises, and the measures outlined above should help alleviate concerns and ensure the business can handle the stresses a pandemic can create. To be prepared is crucial for the preservation of the business.
PANDEMIC PLANNING CHECKLIST
Plan for the impact of a pandemic on business
Completed / In Progress / Not Started or N/A
ACTION:
Identify a pandemic coordinator and/or team with defined roles and responsibilities for preparedness and response planning. The planning process should include input from HR (where applicable)
Identify essential employees and other critical inputs required to maintain business operations by location and function during a pandemic.
Train and prepare ancillary workforce (e.g. employees in other/different job roles).
Create a client communication plan and channels e.g. website updates, social media etc. Set responsibilities for who should update and how often.
Develop and plan for scenarios likely to result in an increase in demand for your services during a pandemic (e.g. what will be the effect on restriction of travel on the business).
Determine potential impact of a pandemic on business financials using multiple possible scenarios.
Determine potential impact of a pandemic on business-related domestic and international travel.
Find up-to-date, reliable pandemic information from; Keep sustainable links.
Establish an emergency communications plan and revise it periodically. This plan includes:
Key contacts (with back-ups)
Chain of communications Including suppliers and customers); and
Processes for tracking and communicating business and employee status.
Supply/Provider chain review.
Contact key stakeholders.
Business Continuity Planning engagement, review testing and deployment.
Ensure all staff know where to get advice and support for themselves and family. www.Covid19.govt.nz
Allow and enable work from home.
On return to the office, set up QR codes, contact tracing stations and relevant consumables/sanitisers etc.