Is your business pandemic prepared?

This week at the Future Ready: Business Summit 2020, hosted by the Peterborough Chamber and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, there was a session called “What Happens If…”.  While this session focussed on business partnerships, succession planning and managing stress, it could have easily included
the need for business to be prepared for emergencies, such as a COVID-19 pandemic.  In fact, there was discussion amongst the event team on a health protocol. The protocol was developed and then communicated to attendees, along with signage at the event.  That protocol is now on our website and all event pages as the safety and well-being of our members and community are of the utmost importance.

Some of the suggestions in the protocol include:

• Evaluating your own health; if you are not well
• Frequent handwashing for at least 20 seconds with soap and after using facial tissue
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow
• Avoid touching your face and clean hands before touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Maintain distance from those who are sick
• Greet people with a wave instead of a handshake

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has pulled together a five-page guide for businesses that will help them ask the questions that will ensure they are prepared.  The guide is designed to assist business planning and continuity efforts. It includes links to some of the most relevant and credible information, best practice tools and resources.
The guide begins with the following overview:

"In addition to the work of the health care industry when a pandemic hits, businesses play a critical role in protecting the health and safety of employees, and limiting the negative impact on the economy and communities. They also need to have business continuity plans that will minimize the impact on the business itself and facilitate a speedy resumption of activities if the business has been forced to scale back or close during the pandemic. Preparedness, not panic, is the best way to mitigate the risks posed by a COVID-19 pandemic to the Canadian economy and our citizens.

Should COVID-19 escalate in Canada, some of the things businesses need to plan for include:

• Staff absences due to a number of reasons (personal illness, ill family members, looking after children if schools close, feeling of safety being at home etc.). In some cases employees may themselves elect to stay home; in other circumstances the government may authorize or require them to do so.
• Disruption to essential services like information, telecommunications, financial services, energy supply, and logistics;
• Disruption to supply of necessary materials or contractors; 
  
• A major increase or decrease in demand for products and services;
• Cancellation or disruption of travel and cross-border movement of people and goods;
• Cancellation of public meetings or gatherings like sports events, concerts or religious services;
• Impact on the trade status of Canada, or of our trading partners; and
• Increased public fear that causes citizens to avoid public places, including front line retail and tourist–related, restaurants and leisure businesses."

The guide breaks planning down into five sections:

• Develop/update business continuity and crisis plans.
• Plan for the potential impact of the pandemic on your business.
• Plan for the potential impact of the pandemic on your people.
• Take advantage of existing tools, templates and best practices.
• Use credible and reliable sources of information to monitor and assess the situation and refine your plans accordingly.

Each of the first three sections has a series of questions that a business or organization should be asking themselves, such as:

• What is the process for decision-making during times of crisis?
• What are the critical services, positions and skills required to keep your business running?
• What is the risk of the pandemic to your employees, partners, suppliers and customers?
• If you were forced to close your doors for two weeks or more, do you have access to a line of credit that will cover ongoing expenses until you can reopen and your cash flow resumes?
• What are the infection control practices in your workplace?
• Are there guidelines and practices you can modify or put in place to curtail direct contact with the public if necessary?

The final two sections offer links to resources such as:

• Templates and plan examples
• Checklists
• Websites for Health Canada and the World Health
• Organization
• Information

Locally, Peterborough Public Health also has extensive information and frequently asked questions on their website: peterboroughpublichealth.ca

A link to the Canadian Chamber guide for business can be found on our website:
peterboroughchamber.ca

COVID-19: How to prepare your business