Unexpected disruptions can affect how a business operates. Employee illness, weather related delays, scheduling challenges, and other interruptions can make it harder to keep projects moving and deadlines on track.
While businesses cannot prevent every disruption, they can prepare for common challenges and establish practices that help employees stay productive.
Here are three ways businesses can help keep work moving when unexpected disruptions arise.
1. Support Employees When They Are Sick
Encouraging employees to stay home when they are sick can help create a healthier workplace and give workers the time they need to recover.
When an employee cannot be physically present, businesses can consider whether meetings and other responsibilities can be handled remotely. Video conferencing and shared online workspaces can allow teams to continue collaborating without requiring everyone to be in the same location.
A workplace culture that takes employee well being seriously can also help employees feel supported when they need time away from work.
For more information about workplace safety, read Let’s Talk About Safety.
2. Keep Meetings Focused
Meetings can be an important part of communication, but too many meetings can take employees away from their primary responsibilities.
When business operations are disrupted, consider whether every meeting is necessary. Internal meetings may be shortened, consolidated, or postponed when appropriate so employees can focus on time sensitive work.
Keeping meetings focused can help teams communicate what they need to know without unnecessarily taking time away from their daily responsibilities.
3. Use Virtual Communication When Possible
Travel can become more difficult when weather, scheduling, or other circumstances interfere with normal business operations.
When an in person meeting is not essential, video conferencing can provide an alternative. Virtual communication can allow employees, clients, and business partners to connect without requiring everyone to travel.
Businesses can also use shared digital workspaces to collaborate on documents, projects, and other information when employees are working from different locations.
Prepare for Changing Business Conditions
Business disruptions do not always happen on a predictable schedule. Having flexible processes in place can help businesses respond when circumstances change.
Workforce flexibility can also play a role. When businesses experience unexpected staffing needs, temporary workers can provide additional support and help businesses adjust their workforce.
LaborWorks helps businesses connect with workers based on their staffing needs. Businesses seeking workforce solutions in Washington can connect with LaborWorks to explore available staffing options.
Keep Your Team Productive and Prepared
Preparing for disruptions does not mean eliminating every challenge. Instead, businesses can focus on creating processes that allow employees to continue working effectively when normal routines are interrupted.
Supporting employee wellness, keeping meetings focused, using virtual communication, and maintaining workforce flexibility can all help businesses respond to changing circumstances.
LaborWorks can help businesses address temporary workforce needs by connecting them with available workers. If your business needs additional staffing support, find people with LaborWorks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is business continuity planning?
Business continuity planning involves preparing for disruptions that could affect normal business operations and establishing ways to continue essential work.
How can businesses maintain productivity during disruptions?
Businesses can support productivity by communicating clearly, supporting employees who are unable to work in person, keeping meetings focused, using virtual collaboration tools, and addressing temporary staffing needs when necessary.
How can businesses handle unexpected staffing gaps?
Temporary staffing can provide businesses with additional workers when they experience unexpected absences, increased workloads, or other short term staffing needs.
Can employees work remotely when disruptions occur?
Remote work may be an option for some roles and situations. Whether it is appropriate depends on the employee’s responsibilities, business requirements, and available technology.
How can LaborWorks help during a staffing disruption?
LaborWorks connects businesses with temporary workers who can provide additional workforce support based on the business’s staffing needs.
About the Source
This article was originally written by Stu Aaron, Chief Commercial Officer at Blue Jeans Network, and featured on Entrepreneur.com. The original article provided the basis for the workplace productivity and communication recommendations discussed above.