What Should Be Included In A Remote Work Emergency Plan?

Working in remote places is pretty common for many businesses, like in the construction industry. While some employees work from the office, others are sent to remote areas to complete their assignments. Most travel in company vehicles and return home at the day’s or project’s end. Remote working is fun when there are resources, but it has its challenges.

One main challenge is isolation, mainly when working miles from the office. Other challenges include poor or no communication and safety concerns. These risks can affect the worker’s ability to deliver well, so they should be solved with an emergency plan.

A remote work emergency plan outlines and solves remote workers’ possible issues. It provides quick solutions so employees have a great time, even when working far away. This guide discusses the top main things the emergency plan should include. Keep reading.

1. Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is the first thing to add to your emergency response for remote work locations. Usually, risk assessment helps you know the problems employees face in remote areas. When you know of the risks, it becomes easier to create great solutions. Some of the dangers which employees in remote regions face include:

• Working at elevated heights such as powerlines
• Accidents
• Poor weather
• Natural disasters and calamities like floods
• Animal and insect bites

The risks experienced depend on the work done and the location. Before assigning remote workers, you should first assess risks in the area. You can see the risks by physically visiting the area to study it. You can then ask the people around you to know the risks. Workers working in the same areas can also be a great source of information. If you can, hire a risk assessment team to outline the possible risks your remote workers may face.

2. Risk Management Plan

Now that you know the possible risks, you can also include ways of managing the risks in your emergency plan. When creating this, you should at least provide a solution to all the identified risks. Besides, you should devise contingency plans for workers to consider if the first method fails. The risk management plan may also include training and equipping your workers. Training gives your remote workers knowledge of where they will be working.

3. Remote Area Emergency Plan

Remote area emergency plans involve providing solutions when a threat happens. It outlines how remote workers can get quick help if something happens. While creating this plan, you should first understand the remote area where the workers will be. You should know how close the police station and emergency response center are.

However, you should know that the emergency response can be slow compared to urban areas. The emergency rescue team in rural areas may also have less equipment. Therefore, you may visit them to learn what tools they have and how fast they can attend to your remote workers in case an unfortunate event happens. You should also collect their contact numbers for easy communication when need be.

4. Personal Emergency Kit

An emergency kit is worth adding to your remote work emergency plan. Each remote worker should have a kit with the tools they may need in case of a threat. The main things to keep in a kit include a whistle, communication devices, local maps, and some drugs. The kit allows one to handle any pain or risks they experience, even when waiting for medical help.

5. Communication Plan

Communication is one of the most common challenges for people working in remote areas. This problem mostly happens because of poor signals and transmissions. The issue may make it hard for them to contest each other or even to seek help when they experience problems. To manage this problem, including a communication plan in your remote emergency plan is essential.

This element should include the most common methods of communication that remote workers should use. It can also involve giving remote workers special emergency phones for emergencies. Find out the communications issues your team may face and develop solutions.

6. Resource Availability

Does your remote work team have all the resources? In many cases, people working in rural areas may lack the right tools.  To solve this problem, you should ensure the workers have all the necessary tools and equipment to make work easier. For instance, they should have well-functional engines for backup energy. Drilling tools should all be available if the job involves drilling. Also, the workers should have the proper safety gear. Find all the resources the workers will need to work in remote areas.

7. Evacuation

Lastly, you may include an evacuation section in your remote work emergency plan. This section should discuss how you will get the remote workers from the site in case of a hazard. To do this, you should inform the workers of the main assembly points. You should create clear walk paths and train workers on what to do while waiting for evacuation.

Conclusion

A remote work emergency plan helps in planning. It sets clear guidelines for what can happen when workers are in remote areas and how they can get help. You should, therefore, be careful when creating it to avoid missing important points. Also, you should know all the risks your remote workers may face before you release them. Find solutions for them as well. This way, the workers will be safe and may be more productive.

 

Flexible Working: A Win-Win for Employers and Employees

Flexible working refers to a work arrangement that allows you to work for however long, where, when, and/or what time you want, as opposed to your traditional 9 to 5 job. Flexible working can take many forms, from remote work to job sharing, and is highly adaptable to the individual.

But what advantages does flexible working have for both employers and employees? Let us find out now.

What Effect Does Flexible Work Have on the Workplace Culture?

Going To The Office Is Expensive

You can review your costs and realize significant savings by downsizing your real estate footprint by implementing flexible working. This will not only save you money on rent, but also on IT, furniture, and utilities. You can also save money by working with a flexible service provider that provides short-term flexible leases. 

Having a flexible workplace is extremely beneficial to both the employer and the employee. One of the most rewarding aspects is having a welcoming environment at the workplace when employees return from remote work or working from home. Finding these types of offices is difficult for most businesses, and changing the environment should be the responsibility of the employer. 

Depending on the location that would be best for your team, you can find these kinds of office spaces in New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles.

According to an Owl Labs survey, employees who work in the office spend twice as much money on things like their commute and meals as those who work remotely. In an era of unprecedented inflation rates and price gouging, remote workers continue to demand competitive compensation. In fact, 57% of employees surveyed agreed that they should be paid the same regardless of where they work.

Flexible Working Has Advantages For Businesses

It is not enough for employees to want flexible working hours; companies must also see the business benefits. Fortunately, the evidence suggests that flexible work has a financial advantage over traditional work.

For one thing, remote workers are happier and thus more productive than their office-bound counterparts. Furthermore, flexible working can significantly increase company loyalty, resulting in lower staff turnover and easier recruitment. An openness to change broadens your talent pool. You can hire the best person for the job rather than simply hiring someone because they live in a convenient location. Technology has allowed many businesses to have access to many resumes of people beyond borders and to find the right people for the position they are looking to fill. A lot of businesses work with hiring professionals to go through this high number of resumes and find the right international employee

Flexibility and telecommuting promote results-oriented work, which directly impacts productivity. Working from home can boost engagement, performance, and motivation while lowering overhead costs.

Productivity

Flexibility fosters creativity and, as a result, inspires employee productivity. Over the last year, employers discovered that flexible working (working from home) did not reduce productivity, and in fact, increased productivity in some cases. According to a CIPD survey, 71% of employers found that working from home either increased or had no effect on productivity.

Employee Retention and Morale

By offering flexible working options to your employees, you will gain company loyalty from employees who will be less likely to switch jobs. Employees have a wide range of personal responsibilities and allowing them the flexibility to maintain a good work/life balance will boost morale and attract new talent. Employers who provide flexible working arrangements have a significant advantage in the recruiting process and access to a larger talent pool.

Sometimes It’s Better To Work Alone

When working from home, employers feel more creative, focused, and capable of meeting deadlines. Workers, on the other hand, prefer that activities like meeting new people and team collaborations take place in person.

Set Precise, Smart Goals

Flexible working works best when you focus on goal completion rather than hours worked. This will save management time while producing tangible results.

As a result, employees and managers must collaborate on SMART objectives, and employees must be completely clear on what they are expected to do, how they are expected to do it, and when their objectives must be completed.

Conclusion

All of this shows that flexible work leads to better future outcomes for everyone. Employees get to define their own working model, fit it into their lives, and feel empowered as a result. Employers benefit from a happier, more loyal, and more productive workforce, and they distinguish themselves as job market leaders. Therefore switching to flexible working is an opportunity to effect long-term positive change for everyone.

About The Author

Freya is a Math teacher, Yoga enthusiast, and a beloved mother of three lovely daughters. She is always looking for ways to grow and help others around her thrive through self-learning, meditation, and physical fitness. When she is not teaching or spending time with her family, Freya regularly writes on topics related to self-improvement and women’s empowerment

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