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HR and business continuity: planning for disaster

We take a look at the part human resources professionals play in helping organisations back onto their feet after a disaster or emergency.

Key points

  • HR departments have tended to take a back seat in designing and implementing business continuity plans.
  • Our snapshot of 41 organisations suggests that HR's role is becoming more prominent, alongside colleagues from IT, security and facilities, although primary responsibility most often rests with the board.
  • In an emergency, HR professionals concentrate on securing personnel records, accounting for personnel and ensuring occupational health and other welfare services are prepared.
  • HR has less of a role in "facilities" issues, such as arranging evacuations and back-up worksites, although at least one expert believes they should be more involved because of the human issues this entails.
  • Few managers receive advice from HR on the threat from "employee insiders" and pre-employment security checks are limited to those required by legislation (for example in the finance and health services).