The virus obviously affects people’s health, but your small business can also suffer when it strikes.
It is that time of year again: flu season! The CDC warns that this year’s season is the worst in a decade, and the flu is at epidemic levels throughout the United States. The virus obviously affects people’s health, but your small business can also suffer when it strikes. Use the current outbreak as a call to action and take these steps to prepare your business for the flu.?
Run a Drill?
?Call in sick? from your office and tell your employees you cannot come to work, or take a test vacation to see what happens when they must run the company without help from you. After your experiment, assess what occurred, make adjustments and repeat the process if necessary.?
Designate a Leader?
Small businesses often lack multiple layers of management. Designate a leader to step in when you are absent, or speak to a friend in your industry who could help handle essential tasks if you work alone. Offer to return the favor in the future.?
Make a Sick Kit?
Take a tip from FEMA and create an emergency kit while you are feeling well. Fill it with phone numbers, spare keys, passwords and anything else required to keep your business going if you fall ill. Make it easy for staffers to find the information so they do not bother you at home while you are recovering.?
Cross-train Employees?
Important operational knowledge should never be left to just one or two people. Training other employees to run your business ensures it will stay running while you are ill. During training, outline your procedures and processes in documents that can be easily referenced later.?
How do you stay healthy and prepare your business for the flu? Share your best advice with our readers in the comments section below.
