Updating business continuity plan, on-ground support for people top priorities for companies

MUMBAI: Even as companies are focused on return to work measures, 21% of respondents in a survey still do not have a pandemic plan and process in place. The survey by International SOS said over 70% of companies’ primary business continuity concern is further disruption from a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updating business continuity plans (60%) and on-the-ground support for colleagues (59%) are said to be the top two priorities organizations are implementing in their safe return to work.
The survey analysed responses from over 1,000 professionals responsible for supporting the health, safety, security, and wellbeing of employees.
Dr Rahul Kalia, medical director at International SOS India, said, “Most organizations currently are trying to balance the employee safety consideration with the economic compulsions of operating businesses. The current pandemic not only compels us to safeguard from the virus but at the same time poses many other health and security challenges for employees and businesses. Having a structured response plans for situations like these (Pandemics) is seen to be an important step in strengthening an organizations resilience. Plans should not only look at immediate reactive aspect of pandemic but also provide direction on potential new normal that the working environment is likely to experience. These changes may range from structural ones like temperature screening at access points becoming a norm on one hand to the need for TeleConsultations becoming a significant provision for employees working from office and from home on the other. Leaders will benefit from timely advice from experts while making these significant future defining changes.”
The risk to mental health is considered the fourth biggest threat to business continuity in the next 12 months, with over one fifth of respondents fearing that this will have an impact. This follows disruption from a potential COVID-19 second wave (73%), country lockdowns (67%) and international border restrictions (57%). The results revealed that over 17% of those surveyed said that mental health issues had already impacted the continuity of their business operations.
Dr Kalia said, “Covid scenario is evolving rapidly in the region and with it, is exacerbating the mental health issues. Working from home, social isolation, anxiety surrounding access to care and generally fear of unknown is contributing to the stress faced by the working population. It will be important to address these Mental health issues and providing structured, confidential and timely access to good mental health support will help safeguard the workforce considerably.”