Business Continuity Planning MCAP Masterclass Session 3: Part 2
- 1. Begin the Discussion Agency leaders should be harnessing the power of after-action reviews while disruptions are still fresh in the minds of employees, stakeholders, and volunteers. Ways to start the review process include conducting an in-depth study of their organization’s disaster readiness and identifying lessons learned after reaching this side of the COVID-19 pandemic. When an assessment team participates in these exercises, they have to be open and honest discussions that uncover information that speaks to the efficacy of the agency’s continuity plans. Agencies should strive to make this process a regular practice before undertaking revisions to their continuity strategies.
- 2. Topics to address include: FOR AGENCIES WITH NO FORMAL BCP: What are the current operational risks? What impact will this risk have on the agency? FOR AGENCIES WITH EXISTING BCP: Did we use our BCP? What was the biggest surprise from using our BCP? What should our organization do differently to better prepare for the next crisis?
- 3. Though BCPs will vary between organizations, we’ve drawn together a list of important and illuminating workforce-focused topics for your agency to discuss as it prepares for the next crisis. MARY L A N D C O M M UNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP
- 4. Workforce Safety is Paramount Protecting the health and safety of the workforce during a crisis should be at the top of every agency’s priority list. In certain situations, such as a pandemic, agencies will need to mobilize the staff and volunteers to protect against the spread of the disease. Return-to-work plans are an integral part of your agency’s response. Plans that only narrowly address how to return remote staff to the office are a missed opportunity.
- 5. Workforce Safety is Paramount Instead, strive to build a return-to-work plan that will communicate to staff, volunteers, participants, and the community you serve how the agency will return to normal operations. Because protecting staff health and safety is paramount, consider facility safety measures for employees who remain on-site in addition to a return-to-work plan for the remaining workforce.
- 6. Continually Update Operational policies and employee handbooks often fall into the trap of becoming static documents. Recent swift changes in national safety guidelines amplified the need to update and socialize operational policy changes at the agency level.
- 7. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many operational policy updates included measures for safe social distancing and minimizing the spread of the disease: Increase the distance between workstations to meet social distance guidelines. Increase cleaning and sanitation of surfaces in shared spaces throughout the office. Impose travel restrictions and update travel policies regularly to include regions the government deems safe to travel. Employees who travel for agency-related or personal matters will need to follow public health guidelines regarding isolation upon returning.
- 8. Knowledge Check! "Which answer is NOT a best practice to ensure your continuity plans and policies will be relevant the next time your organization encounters a disruption?" Question #2 MOVE TO NEXT ACTIVITY TO ANSWER