Top 5 ways to ensure your business doesn’t melt in the snow

With the big freeze causing chaos across Britain many small business insurance holders are on tender hooks praying for a big melt to follow.

With many employees unable to make the treacherous journey to work some businesses could risk crippling losses when the weather takes a turn for the worse. As a country we find ourselves severely underprepared for this kind of weather. What can you do as a business to ensure that while Britain suffers a cold front, your profits do not.

The first thing to consider is to ensure you have the relevant Business Insurance as the potential of claims from Employees who fall is significantly greater the minute the snow starts to fall. Employers Liability Insurance will provide cover for your business against claims from Employees should they injure themselves while working for you.

Read our top 5 ways to ensure that your business stays cool as ice and doesn’t have a financial meltdown the next time Britain turns into Winter Wonderland.

Create a business contingency plan

Every business needs to prepare in advance for incidents that could financially cripple them if not acknowledged. Careful planning is required by a team of people from every aspect of your business. This way each department’s requirements will be taken into consideration when constructing the plan.

It is not good enough for one person to write a plan and save in on their computer’s desktop never to be seen again. Every employee should KNOW the plan inside out and what is required of them should the plan need to be actioned. This is the only way a Business Contingency plan will really work.

Can staff work remotely?

If any of your staff could work from home give them access to do so. It is also an idea to have one or two people from departments that would not usually be able to work from home to be able to log on in emergency situations. If you can, divert phones to remote workers to limit the inconvenience to the business and your customers as much as possible.

Ensure all staff are aware of the procedures with regards to working remotely e.g. must be logged on by certain time. Staff must check in at regular intervals throughout the day with updates for managers (to ensure that staff are working, not watching daytime TV)

Get creative - Capitalize on the snow

Depending on what service/products your business provides look at ways in which you can make the most of snow days. If you have customers you can reach by E-shots/newsletters tailor an e-shot to provide advice and promote sales drawing people to your website at a time when they are likely to be stuck on the house on their computer killing time. If you run a clothes shop keep a stock of wellies in your stock room at all times during winter months – as soon as the snow starts to fall bring your stock of wellies to front of shop, they will be guaranteed to sell out in minutes. If you run a restaurant offer meal deals for customers stranded in the snow to draw in customers from the cold, if you work near other businesses offer a delivery service in the snow. If customers are close enough makes your deliveries by foot, your local customers will be grateful and you will continue to make a profit.

Make the most of the Gas Guzzlers

Keep a record of all people who work for your business that own, or have access to a 4X4. If they are able to get to work can they pick people up on the way?

This kind of information could be included in the business contingency plan so that the minute that you are faced with a situation such as heavy snow the plan can be put into action.

Appoint a Snow Marshall

Like a Fire Marshall is appointed, appoint a Snow Marshall who will co-ordinate snow days from start to finish. Their job will be to ensure all staff are safe and accounted for. The Marshall can update staffs regularly on public transport services buses and trains that are running, and any other factors that would affect the staff that have made it to work on snow days.

To ensure your business has sufficient ConstructaQuote.com can provide  Employers Liability Insurance quotes.

Click here for a step by step guide of how to create a Business Contingency Plan