Excited or tired of hearing about the Olympics?

July 6, 2012 1 Comment

If you’re a business are you … thinking … business continuity? 

As I drove through Aylesbury a few days ago just after 4pm I was surprised at how grid locked the town was – probably because I don’t usually drive through at that time.  It got me thinking – as the Olympic Torch will be in our area this weekend and next week – this is how it may be!  This is how it may be throughout the Olympic season.

I noticed the yellow signs all around town inviting us to remember that Monday, 9th July, the Olympic Torch will be carried through the town.

Olympic fever has been around for a while now – we can’t escape it.  It’s on TV and the Radio, in the newspapers, on the internet and everywhere else and it is having an impact.

Small business affected more than bigger ones?

Some businesses are ignoring the Olympics, whilst others are taking a proactive stance.  What proactive stance, and why?

It’s about Business Continuity.  Small, medium-sized and corporates, public and private sector will all be affected .  And smaller businesses, in my opinion, probably more so than bigger ones.  But small business can (and often do) offer more flexibility.

 Discuss

  1. If you can’t beat ‘em – join ‘em!  The Olympics is here one way or the other.  Talk to your employees – what are their thoughts?  How do they want to become involved, if at all?  Some may not be interested, others may be keenly looking forward to this sporting occasion.  You won’t know unless you have a discussion.
  2. What’s going to happen if people come in later than normal?  This may happen during the Olympic season, the Torch Relay, the Paralympics.  How will your business be affected – customers and employees?  How will employees be affected – travel, transport?  Can they work from home?  Can you schedule meetings on Skype or other media? Are your IT systems set up for remote working and are they secure?  What work do you expect your employees to do if they do work from home – be explicit.  It’s best to manage proactively instead of reacting later.
  3. It’s a good time for employees to book holiday.  It may prevent disruption from short term absence on certain days. How will you manage time off for the odd sick day?  Can you come to agreements so that your employees can watch what they are most interested in if it is during working time?  Maybe there’s a TV at work they can watch, or use the internet, or listen to the radio.  But remember, not everyone will be interested so best to find out early so everyone knows what’s what.
  4. Flexibility?  Think about the ‘kudos’ for you if you are more flexible at this time – your employees will remember your flexibility on this occasion and when you need them – they’ll be there.
  5. Employees still can work their contractual time – there is no reason why they can’t. They can come in earlier than their normal start time, stay later than normal, or what about working on Saturday or Sunday if necessary?  The Working Time Regulations have been suspended by the Government for 8 weekends from 22 July during the Olympics and Paralympics.   It’s mainly for the retail industry but what’s stopping other businesses from being flexible – of course it needs to be cost effective too!
Do you need more information?
  • Here are links to the Olympic Torch’s journey through Aylesbury, Oxford, Bedford and Hertfordshire (it’s not the full list) :

Hertfordshire from Saturday 7 July

Bedfordshire from Sunday 8 July

Buckinghamshire  from Monday 9 July

Oxfordshire from Monday 9 July

Contact us if you would like help to put in place employee initiatives.  Cecily Lalloo of Embrace HR, is based in Aylesbury, and supports businesses in Buckinghamshire, Oxford, Thame, and London who do not have their own in-house human resources people.  

T : 07767 308 717

E : hr.support@embracehr.co.uk

A : Elsinore House | Buckingham Street | Aylesbury | HP20 2NQ

W: www.embracehr.co.uk

Graphics from :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Summer_Olympics

http://bit.ly/N5S3zj (www.bedford.gov.uk)

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