Planning for Bad Weather

In many parts of the country, planning for bad weather is a winter requirement.  There are often at least one or two bad winter storms each year, depending on where you live.  But what does that mean for your staff and your organization?

For those with remote workers, it can mean life as usual.  Unless there are power outages, there is no concern about the safety of getting to work, so poor travel conditions don’t matter.  For many companies, however, employees are required to work in office at least part of the time.  If these in-office requirements occur during bad weather days, it can be frustrating and productivity may be reduced or lost.

So what can you do to better plan?  Have you considered what if any work can be done remotely? 

Even if your entire staff can’t work from home, you may have some positions that can, taking care of work that needs to be done and minimizing potential downtime.  Maybe work can be reassigned, so more staff can maintain productivity.  Having this pre-determined and planned can prevent scrambling for last minute needs.

Can you flex the office hours?  If work is typically Monday through Friday, can you offer Saturday/Sunday work for those who can (making it optional as opposed to required if possible)?

Could you provide rides for your staff? While safety MUST be a priority, if you can safely provide transportation, you might consider that.  And because bad weather can be isolated to specific areas, make sure staff understand that they have to decide individually whether or not they believe they can safely come in.

Is it clear who decides which staff must work in office versus who can work from home and when?  Do you have a bad weather policy that clearly outlines expectations? Do you ensure your managers have their workers’ phone numbers to contact and provide communication or are staff expected to check in with their manager?

For staff that do make it in, do you provide lunch or snacks or some other treat as a way of showing appreciation for those who may be making an extra effort? Can you provide shelter and food if staff need to stay at the office for an extended period and/or overnight?

Planning ahead can make a big difference between losing out and maintaining efficiency, at least as much as possible during these bad weather days.  Before the next winter storm hits, make sure you have a clear idea of what can be done by whom and have the contact information needed.

Promote safety as the most important aspect, starting from there.

#positivity #management #badweather #wintersafety #hrconsultant

Do you have a plan for inclement weather?