HCI Webinar Recap: Engaging Your Employees in Disaster Planning and Response, Patrick Hardy

In the latest HCI Webinar, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Patrick Hardy about engaging your employees in disaster planning and response. Below is a summary of the main points from their conversation! Check out the full episode and let us know what you think!

Watch the episode here:

Quick Recap

Jonathan and Patrick discussed the importance of disaster management and preparedness, emphasizing the need for proactive planning and employee empowerment in crisis situations. They also highlighted the significance of involving employees in the planning process and giving them authority to perform specific tasks during a business interruption. Lastly, they concluded their podcast recording and engaged in a post-interview conversation, discussing the importance of consistency, high-profile guests, and efficient editing techniques in making a successful podcast.

Proactive Disaster Management and Preparedness

Jonathan and Patrick discussed disaster management and preparedness. Patrick emphasized the importance of taking control of one's responses to disasters, rather than relying on others. He suggested that people should assume no one else will help them in case of a disaster, and thus, they should be proactive in planning for themselves. Jonathan agreed, using the example of earthquake preparedness in Utah. They concluded that while worst-case scenarios may not always occur, proactive steps can still lead to a better response to disasters.

Employee Empowerment in Disaster Planning

Patrick and Jonathan discussed the importance of employee empowerment in disaster planning. Patrick emphasized that involving employees in the planning process and giving them authority to perform specific tasks during a business interruption is crucial. He also highlighted the need to avoid creating a sense of fear or mistrust among employees. Jonathan agreed, noting that employee involvement is essential for effective crisis management and communication.

Empowering Employees in Disaster Planning

Patrick discusses the importance of empowering employees in disaster planning and response. He criticizes plans that rely solely on management decisions, citing examples like the Hawaii missile alert incident where hotel staff were unprepared. Patrick emphasizes the need for flexible, empowering plans that allow employees to act independently. He suggests running drills with random employees in charge to test plan effectiveness. Patrick also highlights the importance of considering personal factors, like employees' need to care for pets during emergencies. He concludes by stating that effective disaster planning should be energizing and empowering, not doom and gloom, and can make disasters predictable and manageable.

Listen to the webinar here: