How Can HR Professionals Prepare Their Companies For Severe Weather

Three best practices that encourage the implementation of modern technology

We’re in the midst of another severe weather period that will put communities across the U.S at risk. Drought conditions have set the stage for another active wildfire season, especially in the western part of the country. Experts predict that we’ll see five major hurricanes in the coming months with the biggest storms hitting shores in late August or early September. Given these known threats, it’s time to revisit severe weather and natural disaster response plans for all types of potential events.
 

HR teams, in particular, can play an important role in this area. Many people spend the majority of their waking hours in office buildings and brick-and-mortar locations, and yet keeping employees safe during natural disasters can be challenging, especially for large, complex organizations. Fortunately, modern technology makes things easier.

With the right communication and collaboration platform, HR leaders can prepare their companies to withstand any weather event. They can increase enterprise resilience and employee confidence, both of which are critical for sustaining healthy organizations.

Against this backdrop, let’s consider three best practices that encourage the implementation of modern technology to optimize severe weather response plans.

Deliver Clear, Multi-Channel Messaging to Employees

Clear communication is essential during severe weather events. HR teams should revisit and update emergency response plans today and at least annually before severe weather arrives. Much has changed in the last few years, and many companies haven’t had a chance to revise safety plans according to new floor layouts, office capacity, new digital channels, and other factors. Getting back up to speed is crucial now that we are settling into post-Covid times.

A big part of preparing companies for natural disasters also includes making sure your team members have access to safety and communications plans, not only in the lunch room or hallways but on “always available” dedicated web pages or mobile apps that employees know they can refer to at any time. What’s most important is that severe weather resources exist and that workers know where to find them.

Of course, the real communication burden comes when severe weather does strike. During natural disasters and weather emergencies, HR teams must be able to send messages to all employees through their preferred communication channels. This might mean sending emails and SMS texts, making automated calls, pushing desktop notifications – whatever it takes to reach people who may be in harm’s way.

As an HR department, the goal should be to maximize the visibility of emergency communication. Doing so may require investing in a modern communication platform that supports multi-channel messaging at scale.

Develop Specific Plans for Vulnerable Employees

Some employees require additional assistance in severe weather emergencies. They may have physical or mental health needs that make it harder to protect themselves during a natural disaster. Others may need more time to prepare for severe weather or extra help arranging logistics – transportation, housing, food and other needs – that arise in emergency situations.

One of the best ways to ensure no employees fall through the cracks is to offer an inclusive opt-in safety application. HR can provide additional tools, resources, and customized communications in case of a weather crisis. These systems can store details like addresses, and contact information for friends and family members in an emergency.

Having these data points up front enables HR teams to develop custom plans for certain individuals or groups of people. They can also segment their workforces in these systems and deliver tailored messaging to enhance the relevance of any severe weather communication. Furthermore, safety applications empower emergency responders to better serve employees when the time comes.

Collaborate with Public Safety Officials and Emergency Responders

HR professionals should also have tools that allow them to collaborate with public safety officials and emergency responders. It’s easy for natural disaster response efforts to become chaotic when many groups are involved. It’s often unclear who is responsible for what and whose voices carry the most authority. To prevent confusion, HR departments can invest in software solutions that provide one comprehensive ecosystem for managing all aspects of severe weather response efforts.

These platforms provide tools for resource management, scheduling, two-way communication and task management. In the most critical of emergencies, HR teams can share emergency details with law enforcement and public safety officials, ensuring everyone is working from the same resource. When this happens, emergency responses are faster and less overwhelming for employees. They are also safer and more robust overall, leading to better outcomes.

The most advanced software safety ecosystems provide the capabilities mentioned above. Not only can HR teams partner more effectively with external groups, but they can also take advantage of multi-channel messaging and safety profiles. The benefits are well worth the investment.

Together, these features form the foundation for a more holistic severe weather plan. And they are what many companies need as we navigate the back half of 2022.

Author Bio

Todd Miller is SVP Strategic Programs at Rave Mobile Safety. Connect Todd Miller