A Shift in Business Continuity Focus Toward People
Traditionally business continuity has focused on IT systems and the business processes and employee infrastructure they support. However, it requires human capital to keep the business running. Business continuity plans, the business itself, and technology are all predicated on the availability of the workforce. The investment and time and money to protect employees and help them recover quickly during in an emergency pales in comparison to the investment in technology and infrastructure protection.
A recent Forester Research Report highlighted that BC planners and decision makers state that while almost 70% of their organization have plans to recover data centers and communications, less than 25% feel they have planned to support, connect and recover their workforces. The fact that significantly few companies had effectively planned to support and recover their workforces during a crisis reinforces the critical need to shift their planning and towards the risk and needs of their people.
A Varoli survey indicated 69% of business continuity practioners from various industries are not very prepared or just moderately prepared to cover their employees in a crisis. Only 8% indicated they were very prepared.
Risk assessments for business continuity plans have changed based on the rising threat of hurricanes, fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters, as well as pandemics and terrorist attacks. However the focus continues to be on the risk to the company infrastructure and operations, not on how the workforce will be impacted by these threats.
From a human humanitarian viewpoint, helping your employees prepare and recover from disasters is simply the right thing to do for corporations. Many companies already help their employees and families during a crisis. These efforts, however, tend to be ad hoc and reactionary, versus planned, proactive and preventative. Employees appreciate their company’s concern for their safety and well-being, and show increased loyalty as result.
A well prepared, well informed workforce responds more effectively during an emergency, reduces loss injury and loss of life, minimizes property damage and recovers much quickly. Business in turn benefits by minimizing business disruption and productivity loss.
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Noto in Sicily