While businesses face risks throughout the year, winter can be a particularly tricky time. Not only can your business be adversely affected by the weather, but your employees can succumb to sickness – costing your business time and money!
Putting measures in place now can help you make it through the difficult winter months and make it through the other side. Here are some of the ways you can prevent common business issues this winter.
Take care of staff wellbeing
Your employees are essential to your business, and without them, things could crumble. With flu season here, you need to make sure your employees are taking care of themselves. Illness can cost your business time and money, which isn’t ideal at this time of year! While you need to make staff aware of how to prevent flu at work, it’s also up to you to put measures in place.
Maintain a strict hygiene policy to prevent the spread of viruses – providing antibacterial products can help you with this. Meanwhile, it’s important to communicate to employees that they should stay at home if they show viral symptoms and encourage home working wherever possible.
Test your equipment
Cold weather and busy periods can cause havoc for your equipment. Regular testing is important, but you should consider putting in additional checks at this time of year to minimise business performance risks. Invest in MCS Test equipment to make sure everything is working as it should. In the event of any faults, book repairs quickly to avoid any disruptions to services over the coming months.
Be prepared for the weather
We’re prone to terrible weather in the UK, but every winter it comes as a shock! From flooding to strong winds and snow, anything can happen during the winter months! Now is the time to put policies in place that can keep your employees safe from the elements. Flexible working policies can help your teams work from home and keep them from having to travel in poor weather. More businesses are moving towards flexible working as a way to improve employee retention, so now could be the perfect time to introduce it to your business.
Make stock and systems checks
If you run a retail business of any kind, you’ll know that Christmas is a busy time of year. It’s the time you’ll want to make sure your stock levels are healthy and that your ordering systems are all in working order. Any kind of failures at this time of year could cost your business money and its reputation, so start those tests and checks now while there’s time. Monitor the situation over the coming weeks and get your business ready for the rush!
Winter happens every year, but the problems faced at this time can still come as a shock to businesses. Put measures in place to protect your business common winter concerns and make sure your workplace and workers are taken care of.
