A pandemic plan is a plan that protects against the worst-case scenario

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything about the way we do business. In March 2020, many businesses were caught off guard by the fast-paced and very sudden closures. Unfortunately, it is predicted that some businesses will not survive the drastic effects and resulting changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those that do will be forced to permanently change their business models.
 
The businesses that will come out on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic are those that already had a plan in place to deal with the most unimaginable worst-case scenarios – scenarios just like the pandemic scenario that started in March of 2020. The good news is that there are steps you can take to safeguard your business from future pandemic events. 

Having a plan in place before a pandemic is declared will protect your business and your workers and increase the likelihood that your business survives

Emergency Response Plans

• Learn more about physical distancing
• ​Download a FREE physical distancing poster for your workplace

Most businesses have emergency response plans so that all employees know how to handle events such as:

• Fires
• Electrical outages
• Structural damage
• Violence
• Hazardous spills
• Natural events such as storms, or earthquakes
• Accidents, injuries
• Exposure to controlled chemicals

 
However, very few emergency response plans include a response to a pandemic emergency. But, it should. Having a plan in place before a pandemic is declared will protect your business and your workers and increase the likelihood that your business survives.

Pandemic Planning

​A pandemic plan is a plan that protects against the worst-case scenario. It’s a plan you hope you’ll never need. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic has proven, pandemics can happen, and they can have a sudden, lasting, and very drastic effect on your business.
 
Your pandemic plan should cover elements that would keep the business going during adverse times. This is known as business continuity, and would include:

✔ Revenue Replacement

If a pandemic strikes, your revenue may be reduced significantly. Having a plan in place for survival for several months to a year in the case of reduced revenue is recommended. Consider how you’ll continue production, continue to pay overhead costs, and continue to pay employees. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government created programs aimed at helping organizations pay employees; however, there is no guarantee that programs will be available in the future. 

✔ Running on Reduced People Power

Should the worst happen, and a pandemic results in a large percentage of your workforce going off sick, you’ll need to be prepared to continue production with a reduced workforce. How will you manage this? Some businesses plan to reduce production, or even shut the doors. Cutting a shift, job-sharing, and remote work are all also ways that you may plan to keep your business running during a pandemic. 

✔ Keeping Workers Safe

​Workers that must continue to report to work during a pandemic must be kept safe. Your pandemic plan must include measures that will be taken in the event of a pandemic to ensure that all workers are kept safe. This will include how workers will access and use PPE, how workers will be protected if they serve the public, and potential screening measures. 

✔ Remote Work

​Like the COVID-19 pandemic, you may find your business in a situation where workers need to isolate as much as possible. Is your organization prepared to set workers up to work remotely?

✔ Preparing to be Shut Down

The Canadian government forced all non-essential businesses to shut down in April of 2020 to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in an effort to keep as many people home as possible. In your pandemic plan, consider whether your business is essential. If it is not, and cannot be re-purposed to become essential, then you may have to plan for the possibility that you’ll be forced to close. 

If your business is forced to shut down or reduce production, providing training is a great way to keep workers productive

Get Trained

MidSouthWest Offers COVID-19-specific emergency response training. The course covers:

• Limiting Exposure
• Sick Leave
• Housekeeping
• Good Hygiene
• Physical Separation
• Communication with Your Workforce
• Employer Regulatory Responsibilities
• Support for Business Operations
• Effect on Business Operations
• When to Implement Policies

Learn More about COVID-19 Action Planning

MidSouthWest is your Online Training Solution Provider

If your business is forced to shut down or reduce production, providing training is a great way to keep workers productive. With our extensive catalogue, competitive pricing, and user-friendly training platform, MidSouthWest offers an effective, efficient, and cost-effective online training solution. Courses can be purchased online and accessed anywhere, so training can be done safely from home. 

Trust MidSouthWest Training and Consulting

We are in unprecedented times. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world, including the way we do business. But, we’re all in this together, and when it comes to providing training for your workers, you don’t have to go it alone. 

​To learn more about MidSouthWest Training and Consulting’s online training options, including COVID-19: An Action Plan for the Workplace, contact us online or call 289.309.1143. Visit us 24/7 on the web at midsouthwest.ca.

​Last updated August 6, 2020