The National Public Awareness campaign was launched on 24th October in response to research showing that most people did not feel prepared for a severe weather induced emergency.
The campaign focuses on steps people can take to ensure they are able to cope when severe weather hits. Businesses are also being urged to prepare by taking ‘simple but sensible’ steps.
Scottish businesses have been forced to deal with several harsh winters in recent years, and will therefore be all too familiar with the challenges that severe weather can bring.
Empire is urging businesses to prepare early this year, particularly in view of the early arrival of snow last year. Several weather forecasters are predicting another early arrival of severe weather this year.
Top ten tips from Empire are:
1. Consider offering your employees a free flu jab. This should help minimise absences over the winter period.
2. Draw up a contingency plan detailing how key roles will be covered if the usual post holder is unable to attend work due to the weather or illness.
3. Circulate an up to date and clear winter weather policy. This should detail whether employees will be expected to make up their hours at a later date, take the time off as unpaid leave, or take the time off as annual leave. The policy should be tailored to suit the needs of your business, as well as take the circumstances of employees into account.
4. Make arrangements for key employees to work from home if they are unable to get into the office. For example, you may need to ensure they can access their emails from home, are contactable, and have the equipment they need to work at home.
5. Consider the needs of those with children and other dependants. School closures often leave employees unexpectedly unable to attend work - with very little notice. Ensure that this group of employees know how to keep the business up to date and aware of their childcare predicaments.
6. Ensure you have a good absence reporting procedure. All employees should be made aware of who to contact if they are unable to get into work. The policy should stipulate the time they need to make contact by, and how regularly to provide updates in relation to their attempts to get in.
7. Carry out full risk assessments. Even slippery car parks need to be considered! Those with health conditions may need extra support.
8. Be consistent but fair with those who have been unable to get into work. Those who have made little real effort to get to work could be subject to disciplinary action, but those who live in remote areas may need to be given more leeway than those who live within walking distance of the office. It’s important to take all relevant factors into consideration when deciding whether disciplinary action is appropriate.
9. Keep air travel to a minimum where snow is forecast. This will help prevent the cancellation of meetings at the last minute due to delayed flights caused by the weather.
10. Where your employees are required to drive at work, ensure the vehicle is equipped for snow. Are the tyre pressures correct? Is there plenty of water? Are oil levels good? Do they have a supply of deicer?
Has or will your business be affected by these issues? Empire welcome all feedback and comments.
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