Note from the speaker to our Malaysian colleagues attending the coming webinar: As the webinar is based on the exiting of the "Moment Control Order" on 12 May 2020, the early announcement by the Malaysian government to allow the resumption of business which was supposed to be discussed on 11th May needs to be brought forward. The content are my views contextualize to the Malaysian environment which was part of our discussion during the webinar.
For those who want to know more about the webinar, click here or on the "COVID-19 Coronavirus" icon button.
Hoped you find them useful. Stay Safe.
Planning Considerations to "Return Home" Following the Lockdown
Preparing the exit a lockdown should start with the identification of the "Return to Normal" considerations. It is meant to assist organizations to develop and coordinate a plan to resume operations. Organizations should determine how to assess the status of personnel, assets and facilities.
As an organizations returning from a "lockdown" you may want to consider the following:
Plan and Procedure
- Start by developing a plan and procedures for how operations will be resumed.
- This is part of the "restoration" and "return home" as per the business continuity plan.
Re-occupation By Phases
- Develop a time-phased approach to prepare a facility to be re-occupied.
- There should a small team focusing on facility and security performing the initial -occupation f the facility which focus more on the cleaning and safety requirement.
Prioritize People, Processes and Infrastructure
- Prioritize the premises, business functions and returning employees may need to work in staggered shifts.
- Focus on the business impact analysis and re-assess the "critical business functions" to be resumed.
- Based on risk assessment, the staggering shift will minimize the infection of the entire team
Communication to Internal and External Stakeholders
- Communicate with both internal and external stakeholder
- Inform employees of the process for returning to work.
- Start the internal communication with the business unit BCM coordinators to start the communication with the entire organisation.
- Commence to contact key vendors and suppliers needed to re-start or support your -re-starting of the business operations.
- Consider providing online training and guidance for employees before returning.
- Coordinate with partners and stakeholders.
- Determine what methods will be used to inform employees, customers, vendors and stakeholders that operations are being resumed.
- Establish a communication plan to cover all stakeholders
Opening of Premises
- Identify and implement additional facility maintenance tasks necessary to safely reopen closed buildings.
- Ensure that the premises is "cleaned" before anyone is to enter the premises.
Address Physical and Psychological Impact
- Address physical and psychological impacts to personnel through employee and family support plans and other human resource measures.
- May want to know any of your staff or family member are currently hospitalised or quarantine due to COVID-19
- Understand that school and childcare may still be closed and this requires one member of the family to stay back at home
Continuous Feedback and Improvement Plan
- Develop an after-action improvement plan to note lessons learned and improve plans.
- The key is to record all learning from this and to share with the in-coming team as the "Return Home" is staged for batches of employees to return to the office.
Will We Ever Be Back to Normal?
Businesses need to establish a multi-part return to the worksite. With emphasis on the safety of staff and the need to be cautious for any further infections, the office will gradually move from a tentative limited to partial to a full opening over the course of weeks/months until the Pandemic fully dies down.
Finally, we need to asked the question: "What is the NEW normal?" while organisation gets out of COVID-19?
Reference
https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2020/04/30/planning-considerations-organizations-reconstituting-operations-during-covid
Reference Guide
Goh, M. H. (2016). A Manager’s Guide to Implement Your Infectious Disease Business Continuity Plan, 2nd Edition. GMH Pte Ltd. [Click book icon for more information]
Do You Want to Continue Training During A Pandemic Outbreak?
Due to the pandemic outbreak, BCM Institute will be conducting its certification courses via interactive video conferencing, online and e-learning mode. Find out more about the Business Continuity Management (BCM) and Crisis Management (CM) Blended Learning (BL) courses.
The course code for the BCM course is BL-B-3 and the CM course is BL-CM-3 respectively.
For this period, the content will include the managing and implementing of the Pandemic Influenza plans.