Most of us have seen – either first-hand or on TV – the devastating affect of the recent flooding to the country. Many homes are without running water or electricity and there are even reports of bottled water being sold for £15 each, which is unbelievable.

Meanwhile, the Association of British Insurers has said the total cost to the insurance industry for both the June and July floods could top £2 billion.

It is of course extremely unfortunate for all those involved, but it also illustrates the need for businesses to have effective contingency plans in place for unforeseen events such as this. Flooding to offices and workplaces can have serious and expensive consequences if these plans aren’t put in place. There can be damage to the premises, equipment and stock, not to mention absent staff who are unable to travel into work.

HR can get involved in precautionary measures, such as assessing the risks, training employees to deal with the effects of flooding to ensure their safety, insuring the business, and drawing up a flood plan. More details on flood preparation for businesses can be found at the Environment Agency website.

I hope that not too many of you have been affected by the recent flooding, but if you have, please feel free to share your experiences with us here.

Thanks

Lucie Benson