Welcome back to WorkJam’s Digital Workplace Blog where our aim is to help you revolutionize the way your HQ and frontline work together!

Helping your frontline be better prepared for natural disasters begins by implementing a communication plan. This includes an easy way to connect, and what better way than straight to their personal devices? As seen just recently with Hurricane Ian, frontline communication and safety are a serious and timeless issue.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you want the members of your frontline that are in danger to know that their safety is a priority. You also want the members of your frontline workforce that are not in danger to be up to date on how their work responsibilities are being impacted.

Does everyone need to immediately evacuate?

Are some of your locations staying open?

Perhaps you’re providing shelter to those in need.

Sending messages through a digital frontline workplace is a quick and efficient way to communicate. And as we learned recently, many of our customers relied on WorkJam to keep everyone in the loop through their mobile devices while Hurricane Ian was busy wreaking havoc.

Following are three pointers to help you implement a communication plan now so that you and your frontline are ready for any future disasters.

  1. Communicate with frontline members who are in danger

Organizations need to communicate that safety comes first. Even when an evacuation is in place, your frontline needs to know that their shifts have been canceled and the workplace is shutting down. This will encourage your frontline to act in their own best interest by putting their personal safety first. As well, you can inform your frontline of any critical information, including emergency numbers and timely crisis instructions.

  1. Communicate with the entire company 

Frontline members who are in danger are not the only ones affected by natural disasters. Their workload shifts to other parts of your organization and it’s important for you to communicate with your entire team so that everyone is aware of any temporary changes to processes and procedures, as well as temporary changes to their work responsibilities.

  1. Communicate during the aftermath

After a hurricane, life does not immediately go back to normal. Some employees may be more available than others, depending on their personal situation. During this time employers should communicate with their staff and provide opportunities for frontline members with more availability to pick up additional shifts. In turn, this will provide anyone experiencing trauma with the time they need to manage their personal crisis.

Timely and accurate communication during a hurricane is key for the safety and wellbeing of everyone affected.

For additional information on how to prepare for a hurricane, we’re happy to provide you with a link to this authoritative website https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.