BE PREPARED! PLANNING FOR & RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES ABROAD


When employees and their families are away on international assignments, global mobility professionals must be prepared for and able to respond to unforeseen emergencies. Dr Sue Shortland explains why this is important and the steps that can be taken to support people involved.


I


n today’s geopolitically and climatically unstable world mass events such as war, invasions, terrorism and


natural disasters (like floods and fires) are frequently in the headlines. Organisations must be ready and able to evacuate their employees and families with little notice. This means it is critical to be prepared for eventualities that could affect the workforce. It is important to research


the business environments where the organisation operates. Risk management is crucial. Risks


can potentially


be


reduced


by


investigating potential threats and by preparing and training the employees working in that location. It is important to ensure that appropriate insurance policies are set up, safety and security measures are in place and that individuals are prepared and trained to be as safe and secure as possible. Accidents and emergencies


(including ill-health conditions) happen. Therefore planning at the individual level is needed as well, so that the organisational response is efficient and effective.


WHY EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING IS IMPORTANT Having an emergency response plan forms part of an employer’s duty of care to their employees. Failure to prepare for emergencies has a range of negative impacts at both the organisational and individual level. At the organisational level,


the lack of a response plan or a poorly effected response will lead to reputational/brand damage and potential legal claims. In terms of workforce attraction and


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GLOBAL MOBILITY


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