MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY - DECEMBER 12: Homes and business are reduced to rubble after a tornado ripped ... [+]
As a record-breaking heat wave continues across the U.S., the results of a new survey found that many employees think their companies could do more to help protect them against severe weather and natural disasters.
That’s according to the 2022 Natural Disaster and Severe Weather Preparedness report by communication and collaboration platform Rave Mobile Safety that was released on Wednesday.
“In 2021, the United States had some of the worst natural disasters and severe weather ever recorded, including 18 weather disasters that cost more than one billion dollars in damages and response,” according to a Rave press release.
“With the first half of 2022 already delivering record heat and storms, residents, public safety agencies, state and local governments, workplaces, and more must prepare for these increasingly common events,” the company warned.
Bad News/Good News
Unfortunately, only 27% of respondents said they felt very or extremely prepared to face severe weather.
The better news for business leaders is that most employees (73%) said they were aware of procedures or protocols to follow during a natural disaster, including a severe weather event. And the majority of respondents (85%) said they generally trust that their workplace is prepared to protect them during a natural disaster or severe weather event.
“This high vote of confidence could stem from good communication practices – most workplaces communicate with their employees via text (51%) or email (30%) during a severe weather event,” according to Rave Mobile Safety.
How To Make Employees Feel Safer
But there is no such thing as being too prepared for a weather-related crisis. That’s why, according to surveyed employees, there are additional actions companies can take to make them feel even safer at work. The steps include holding training sessions (47%), making safety plans digital (40%), and offering a workplace safety app (33%).
Provide Safe Havens
Workplaces ranked third on a list of where people feel the safest from natural disasters and severe weather. Colleges and universities ranked first, and concerts and festivals came in last.
About The Survey
The survey was conducted in June 2022 by the independent research firm Researchscape. Respondents included 1,071 individuals aged 18+ living in the U.S. Responses were weighted to represent the overall population, according to Rave Mobile Safety.
MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY - DECEMBER 12: Homes and business are reduced to rubble after a tornado ripped ... [+]
‘Business Leaders Must Focus On Proactive Steps’
“When it comes to safety preparedness for severe weather and natural disasters, business leaders must focus on proactive steps, timely communication, and real-time response,” Todd Piett, CEO of Rave Mobile Safety, said via email.
“Companies should look to bolster severe weather response protocols by investing in communication before, during and after a crisis to keep anxiety at a minimum and to provide actionable guidance. A solid groundwork for communication—and the tools to reach employees where they are—can greatly enhance business continuity and employee safety,” he counseled.
Put Feedback Into Action
“The survey results clearly show that respondents want more training to better understand severe weather and natural disaster company protocol, and it is critical that business leaders put this feedback into action at their companies.
“Training and communication not only help staff members feel more empowered when chaos ensues, it demonstrates that business leaders have their employees’ best interests at heart,” Piett observed.
