More employees are pushing for telecommuting to save gasoline costs that, in effect, are proving to be a salary drain. And more businesses are offering the benefit of telecommuting to keep valued employees from leaving for a company closer to home.
Telecommuting is more than an employee benefit: Business continuity plans should recognize telecommuting as a major crisis management tool.
- The most obvious crisis is a natural disaster, either short-term such as an ice storm or long-term such as a flood, that can wipe out functions at the main office or block access to the office.
- Another crisis is less likely, but not impossible, crime such as a disgruntled employee who “goes postal,” an irate spouse seeking revenge or a furious client.
- And we can’t overlook the issues of pandemic illness and terrorism.
Here are the numbers:
- One in five U.S. companies suffers a disaster that causes them to close their doors for a period of time.
- About 40 percent of small businesses that experience a disaster never reopen.
- About 43 percent of companies hit by severe crises never open their doors again.
- A recent survey found that 73 percent of federal workers said they would not come into their offices in the event of a pandemic.
Is your business prepared? Why not? Contact me to discuss your business continuity planning.
