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.
Good article. We need to keep this at the forefront of every business manager's mind. It won't go away so better start preparing.
Readers may wish to see this chapter on social distancing which covers telecommuting as part of the arsenal against the spread of the pandemic.
Nigel Thomas
For free references and tools go to Bird Flu Manual Online or, if you need more comprehensive tutorials and templates, check out Bird Flu D-I-Y eManual for business preparedness and survival.
Posted by: birdfluman | July 07, 2008 at 11:24 AM