Shane Haven

VOLCANIC ASH LEAVES DARK CLOUD OVER BUSINESS

With the volcanic eruption in Iceland and the resulting ‘ash cloud’ wreaking havoc on international travel and stranding Brits across the world, many businesses have been counting the cost of missed orders, undelivered stock and more importantly absent executives.

The delays left many companies without staff for a week and with an unprecedented backlog of flights, many employees could be away for a further seven or fourteen days. This has left many companies wondering how they are going to get the work done and what to do about absent staff.
The eruption of Eyjafjallajökul brings about intense pressure of unplanned absenteeism in the workplace but with good direction and motivational tactics, companies can cope as they “muck in and get the job done”.

If you are struggling to keep the ‘ash cloud’ disruption to a minimum, here are some management suggestions from executive jobs site, TheLadders.co.uk:

1. Communication is essential – it’s important to keep lines of communication open between worker and employer – agree a regular method of staying in touch.
2. Be flexible – where and if possible a flexible approach to matters such as methods of working may be effective. The handling of travel disruption can be an opportunity for an employer to enhance staff morale and productivity by the way it is handled.
3. Use information technology – Technology enables work to continue, even if you are stranded in Mauritius. Use internet cafes, laptops or mobile devices to communicate with managers to get work done whilst overseas.
4. Pay – Remember, employers are not legally obliged to pay staff who have been unable to get to work because of travel delays (unless the travel has been business related). However check contractual procedures in place for this, as discretionary payment for travel disruption might also be of use.
5. Be fair – Even if businesses are damaged by the effects of absent workers they should still ensure that any measures they take are carried out according to proper and fair procedure. This will help maintain good, fair and consistent employment relations and help prevent complaints to employment tribunals.

‘Even in the best run company, extreme circumstances can cause a great amount of disruption. Now is a good opportunity to think about how to deal with future scenarios. Think about issues such as alternative working patterns or staff cover at short notice and put policies in place,’ says Derek Pilcher, Managing Director of TheLadders.co.uk.

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