| Are you challenged keeping team members | | | | of mind knowing that their own family plan is |
| involved in the continuing effort of developing and | | | | being executed. They do not have to wait until |
| maintaining your company's business continuity | | | | they get home since they would have planned |
| plan? We know their reasons: too busy, don't | | | | ahead of time what should be done and who will |
| understand the process, don't see the value, and | | | | do it. |
| don't perceive the project as a real company | | | | · This important and relevant planning |
| priority. Our challenge and concern: have team | | | | experience will lead to better understanding of the |
| members seriously consider the information they | | | | continuity planning process at work. Expect better |
| are submitting to the continuity plan. | | | | cooperation resulting in a more engaged |
| Not surprising is the fact that families and | | | | workforce contributing better ideas and insights. |
| households are not planning for emergencies, | | | | · When they leave the workplace each |
| disasters or terrorist attacks at home either. | | | | day, they will better understand that the |
| Everyone is busy. It is easy to gamble that | | | | important documents left on their desks and the |
| nothing will happen. Every day that passes without | | | | important information on their PC's must be able |
| incident reinforces that lack of action. As BC | | | | to be reproduced. It is more likely that PCs will be |
| planners, we understand that a good plan is like | | | | backed up. Documents will be logged in and stored |
| insurance. We want to be fully covered, but hope | | | | according to the company's continuity plan. |
| we never have to use it. | | | | · For employees who work at home, this |
| How can we raise the awareness and motivate | | | | is an opportunity to reemphasize the company's |
| our employees to take continuity planning | | | | policy of backing up that work and having the |
| seriously? One solution is to encourage them to | | | | work available to their department at all times. |
| have a family home continuity plan. | | | | · And last but not least, successful |
| As business recovery planners we can help. How? | | | | companies foster the sense that their employees |
| Apply the best practices learned over the last | | | | are important. This is another way to show that |
| decade from the business continuity community | | | | your company cares for its employees and that |
| to best practices for our team members and | | | | this company is a family friendly place to work. |
| company employees to develop their own home | | | | How can we do this, aren't we busy enough? |
| continuity plans. Families and households have a lot | | | | Right now, how are you getting the word out |
| of information to identify and document. Families | | | | about business continuity planning? Use the same |
| need a structured methodology to get started | | | | techniques. |
| and to avoid getting bogged down with | | | | · In your newsletter or on your Intranet, |
| unnecessary information. | | | | deliver a project plan for completing a home |
| Both our business and personal worlds are | | | | continuity plan. Have one task or topic in each |
| information dependent. Every household needs an | | | | newsletter. Include tips and Internet URLs as |
| easy, reliable way to create emergency | | | | resources for additional information. |
| preparedness and recovery plans to manage their | | | | · Include short discussions on continuity |
| own essential information to respond to an | | | | planning at department or company meetings. |
| emergency or disaster, and to recover as | | | | Talk about both business continuity and home |
| painlessly as possible. What essential information: | | | | continuity issues. Show what they have in |
| contact numbers, emergency procedures, | | | | common. |
| evacuation routes, shelter addresses, lists and | | | | · Provide worksheets. Fill in common |
| location of supplies, critical documents, user ID's, | | | | information to get them started such as contact |
| PIN numbers, credit, bank, retirement account | | | | numbers and addresses for local first responders, |
| numbers, medical information, insurance | | | | hospitals, shelters, government disaster planning |
| information, list of assets. Have your employees | | | | agencies; sources for weather updates and traffic |
| really considered what the impact would be if a | | | | advisories; your company's emergency numbers. |
| home PC was stolen or damaged? Could they | | | | · There is a growing awareness that |
| restore their applications and data to a new PC? | | | | families must be prepared for the first 72 hours |
| Would that only impact them, or your company | | | | following a crisis. Information and tools on how to |
| too? | | | | create a home continuity and emergency |
| What would happen if they could not get back | | | | preparedness plan are increasing. |
| into their house for several days? Would they | | | | · Share testimonials and experiences. Has |
| have the information they need? What if they | | | | there been a local incident such as a tornado, |
| could not leave their house for several days, | | | | flood, hurricane, or fire? What was learned? What |
| would they have the supplies they need and | | | | was needed at the time? What is being done |
| know what to do? | | | | differently today? |
| What are the benefits or why should you | | | | · If your company is purchasing medical |
| consider this? | | | | supplies, food, water or other emergency supplies, |
| · If a disruption is widespread and effects | | | | consider offering to make purchases for |
| employees' families, people will be able to return | | | | employees using your company discount. |
| to the workplace faster and be less distracted | | | | All companies rely on its employees. All business |
| once they have secured their own households. | | | | continuity plans rely on its employees. All |
| · If there is advanced warning, the | | | | employees care first for their families. This is a |
| employees responsible to handle the last minute | | | | Win Win approach. |
| efforts to secure the workplace, will have peace | | | | |