| Corporate America and small businesses alike are | | | | Partnership with KIRO-TV in King County, |
| constantly looking for new and exciting ways to | | | | Washington, “a full 53% of respondents aged |
| improve morale, reduce injuries & worker | | | | 18 - 34 and 39% of those aged 35 – 54 do |
| compensation costs, reduce absenteeism, boost | | | | not have an established disaster preparedness |
| sales, or motivate employees to turn in more | | | | plan and a disaster preparedness kit in place. |
| money saving suggestions. Employees today are | | | | These two groups represent a significant portion |
| Starbuck's carded out, wondering where to put all | | | | of the workforce today. |
| their lapel pins, exhausted from another dinner | | | | It is this significant lack of preparedness by the |
| out, and in dire need of valuable recognition from | | | | citizenry that has professional emergency |
| employers. While any recognition is valuable from | | | | responders and local, state and the federal |
| a business sense, the best recognition is items | | | | government concerned the most. While most |
| that employees need to help manage the stress | | | | cities, counties and states have some form of |
| in their life. | | | | emergency response plans in place today, the |
| Making sure your employees are prepared ahead | | | | vast majority of citizens do not. Should a |
| of time is one of the keys to reducing the | | | | significant event occur, many citizens may be on |
| negative effects of an emergency situation upon | | | | their own for up to 3 days without support from |
| your business. A prepared employee will know | | | | professional responders or volunteer agencies that |
| what to do in an emergency. You should also | | | | may be focused on more critically injured persons |
| consider ways to help employees adequately | | | | or more dangerous situations. |
| prepare their families for emergencies with | | | | You can help your employees prepare by |
| survival gear and disaster supplies. This will | | | | providing survival gear as part of a company |
| increase their personal safety and help your | | | | reward or recognition program. You can provide |
| business get back up and running, as those who | | | | such supplies or survival kits directly to |
| are prepared at home will be better able to focus | | | | employees, or make an online emergency |
| and carry out their responsibilities at work. One | | | | preparedness store available through your intranet |
| way to help your employees prepare is to | | | | for employee purchases. Either way, you will |
| provide survival gear as part of a company | | | | truly be helping your employees and their families |
| reward or recognition program. | | | | as well as improving your employee's ability to |
| While many argue “Nothing will ever happen | | | | recover from a disaster and more readily support |
| here,” the fact is that virtually every corner | | | | your business following a disaster. |
| of America is subject to its own unique potential | | | | One such company, Consolidated Diesel Company |
| disasters, hazards and concerns. The Pacific | | | | in North Carolina decided to provide survival kits |
| Coast has its earthquakes and tsunamis; the | | | | for their employees as part of their hurricane |
| Midwest has its thunderstorms, floods and | | | | preparedness safety program. Deborah Wilkins |
| blizzards; the Southeast has its hurricanes and | | | | said, “We were very pleased with the 2 |
| wildfires, the Great Plains has its tornadoes and | | | | person survival kits provided we selected for our |
| wildfires, and the Northeast has its hurricanes, | | | | workforce. Recipients were amazed at the |
| blizzards and floods. So the reality is, wherever | | | | amount of supplies included in each kit and it was |
| you do business, or wherever you travel, you and | | | | like watching kids at Christmas looking through all |
| your employees face significant potential disasters | | | | the components in the kits.” |
| and hazards. | | | | Typical rewards programs are structured in one |
| In July 2006, the Bloomberg School of Public | | | | of 3 ways depending on the purpose of the |
| Health's Center for Communication Programs at | | | | program. |
| Johns Hopkins University conducted a survey and | | | | 1) The first method involves the company |
| focus groups to find out how well people are | | | | pre-purchasing the desired survival supplies (e.g., |
| prepared to face an emergency. “While | | | | solar radios, food rations, shelter, first aid supplies |
| more than two-thirds of the respondents from | | | | or survival kits) for distribution at company |
| five Baltimore area counties and Baltimore City | | | | functions or gatherings. This provides maximum |
| said they have some emergency supplies on | | | | impact and the most timely reward process. |
| hand, the other third do not. Only about a | | | | 2) With the second method, the company |
| quarter of residents feel ready to deal with | | | | can purchase or issue unique gift certificates to |
| disasters.” | | | | award winning employees for purchases at the |
| A recent poll, sponsored by the Insurance | | | | online store. The award winning employees |
| Information Network of California and Fireman's | | | | would be given an appropriate coupon code |
| Fund Insurance Company, found that “Only 22 | | | | (representing either a percentage discount or |
| percent of Californians consider themselves to be | | | | dollar value) to deduct from their order when |
| prepared or very prepared for a disaster in their | | | | checking out of the online store. |
| area. Nearly half singled out 'common sense‘ | | | | 3) The third method is designed to not |
| as the reason to prepare for disaster, but noted | | | | recognize any one individual as “special” |
| few incentives that would motivate them to be | | | | but rather provide all employees with access to |
| ready for future earthquakes, floods or fires. | | | | an online emergency preparedness store to |
| The largest segment of respondents -- only 10 | | | | receive a company group discount. With this |
| percent -- cited a local disaster as the reason to | | | | third method, a company would merely provide a |
| prepare for future risk.” | | | | link from their employee intranet to an online |
| And a 2005 Disaster Preparedness Poll conducted | | | | emergency preparedness supply store along with |
| by Marshall Marketing & Communications, Inc. in | | | | a discount code. |