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❄️Is Your Business Winter-Proof? The Strategic Case for Inclement Weather Planning

  • lansburyservices
  • Nov 21
  • 2 min read

Winter variability means disruption isn't a possibility—it's a certainty. From power outages to staff illness and travel chaos, failing to plan for inclement weather is a direct threat to business continuity, staff safety, and productivity. We see winter preparedness as a crucial element of your overall Risk Management and Employee Experience strategy.


What’s Changing? 🔄


The core change is the shift from reactive scrambling to proactive contingency planning, driven by increased reliance on remote work and heightened duty of care expectations.


  • Integrated Winter Plans: The focus is now on creating a holistic Winter Plan that is integrated across HR, IT, Facilities, and Communications, and continuously reviewed/revised.

  • Remote Work Integration: The prevalence of hybrid and remote work since 2020 means businesses have a much stronger capacity for continuity, but this requires clear, formal policies on remote working expectations during bad weather.

  • Heightened Health Focus: Preparedness extends beyond physical safety (slips/trips) to include mental health (SAD) and infection control (ventilation, hygiene promotion).

  • Facilities/Safety Priority: Proactive maintenance checks on heating, ventilation, emergency generators, and fleet vehicles are no longer optional—they are essential KPIs for business resilience.


What Does It Mean For You? 🚧


Failure to prepare properly can lead to severe business and legal consequences, including lost productivity, safety liabilities, and damaged employee trust.


  • Legal & Safety Risk: Inadequate gritting, maintenance, or provision of proper PPE for outdoor workers (including grey fleet drivers) exposes the business to increased liability for accidents and breaches of duty of care.

  • Operational Disruption: Lack of a clear communication strategy means managers and staff operate inconsistently, leading to chaos, confusion, and unnecessary operational downtime during adverse events.

  • Talent Impact: Businesses that fail to clearly communicate flexible working or childcare policies during weather events risk eroding employee goodwill and damaging the Employee Value Proposition (EVP).

  • Sickness Epidemics: Neglecting infection control and mental wellness during winter can lead to a surge in staff sickness, creating significant and potentially preventable resource gaps.


Our Advice💡


Don't treat winter prep as a last-minute chore. Embed it now as a robust part of your year-round risk management framework.


  1. Formalise Your Remote/Flexible Working Policy: Work with HR to integrate clear guidelines into your Winter Plan. Define expectations for employees who can work remotely versus those who must be on-site, and address scenarios like emergency childcare. Consistency is key.

  2. Conduct a Multi-Disciplinary Risk Audit: Bring together HR, Facilities, H&S, and IT to complete the winter plan. Review lessons learned from previous years. Ensure your Preventive Maintenance schedule (HVAC, heating, generators) is completed before the cold sets in.

  3. Prioritise Health and Wellness: Relaunch or promote your Mental Health Support services, focusing on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Stock up on hygiene supplies and proactively promote good behaviours ('hands, face, space') to mitigate winter illness spread.

  4. Audit Physical Safety & Fleet Readiness: Ensure H&S teams have a full stock of grit and PPE, staff are trained, and clear records of gritting times are kept. For your fleet, standardise a winter car pack and mandate necessary vehicle checks for all employees driving for work.


Being prepared for winter is a demonstration of responsible leadership and commitment to your team's well-being.





 
 
 

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