Planning for Emergencies

[Locals Find!]

I thought this up while reading another thread on here.

Most of us have some sort of plan for emergencies such as floods, fire, hurricanes. What most of us have probably left out, I know I have, is a plan for a family member passing.

We should all probably take some time and make a plan for our businesses in the event something like this occurs so that customers can be notified of potential issues or so someone else can take over during the time period we may be away handling other duties.

 

[James Burke]

"LIKE"

Not only the passing of a loved one, but for any extended absences that are beyond our control.

In my former life, I was a high school teacher. We were required to have a minimum of three days worth of lesson plans on file, just in case we needed them in an emergency.

JB

 

[Locals Find!]

bump

 

[HulkSmash]

Most of us have some sort of plan for emergencies such as floods, fire, hurricanes.

Yeah, Run like Hell.

What most of us have probably left out, I know I have, is a plan for a family member passing.

My grandmother passed away last year. Unfortunately... I could not go to her funeral... because we were so busy. Not to mention i HATE funerals....But if i do have to go. We close the shop. Keep 1 guy there to continue printing and and producing, and put all the calls - call forwarding to my cell phone.

 

[FireSprint.com]

Great post! Got me thinking!

 

[bob]

Why is a family member, or anyone else for that matter, sucking the pipe an emergency? What, exactly, is the emergency?

 

[Locals Find!]

Well, Bob sorry I don't dislike my family members as much as you apparently do. I know when my wife needed emergency surgery and the ambulance picked her up. I wasn't thinking about signs. I am sure others would feel the same.

 

[Gino]

When an emergency arises, you take care of what you feel most important and have your priorities in line. What might constitute an emergency for one person, might be an everyday occurrence for the next person.

Like bob said, why get bent out of shape and plan for something that hasn't happened ?? In my opinion, why waste perfectly good energy over negative possibilities ??

In other words, Addie.... what if you keel over tomorrow or get hit by a cab driver while you're crossing the street ?? Your plans are worthless preparing for others possibilities. In most cases, one can have the best laid out plans, but when the situation pops up, you'll probalby throw caution and duties to the wind and re-act totally different from what you expected.

Ya have insurance, get the right kind and you'll be business-wise prepared if you let your customer down in the event of a catastrophic happening.

 

[AnotherSignManiac]

When an emergency arises, you take care of what you feel most important and have your priorities in line. What might constitute an emergency for one person, might be an everyday occurrence for the next person.

Like bob said, why get bent out of shape and plan for something that hasn't happened ?? In my opinion, why waste perfectly good energy over negative possibilities ??

In other words, Addie.... what if you keel over tomorrow or get hit by a cab driver while you're crossing the street ?? Your plans are worthless preparing for others possibilities. In most cases, one can have the best laid out plans, but when the situation pops up, you'll probalby throw caution and duties to the wind and re-act totally different from what you expected.

Ya have insurance, get the right kind and you'll be business-wise prepared if you let your customer down in the event of a catastrophic happening.

I don't think addie was saying get bent out of shape or worried, just to think about what *could* happen, no different from what *could* happen with a hurricane, tornado ect.

 

[HulkSmash]

wasn't thinking about signs. I am sure others would feel the same.

Well that's cause you don't make them.

 

[genericname]

In my opinion, why waste perfectly good energy over negative possibilities ??

Because other people are depending on you? It doesn't demand much effort.

-Set up call forwarding.
-If you have employees, and don't already have a production manager, set up someone as interim lead, or have everyone set up to execute their roles autonomously.
-Give that interim lead a set of keys.
-Get life insurance so you don't end up screwing your spouse or kids after you kick the bucket.
-Get some contacts from other local businesses that you can farm out to, and give your interim lead the go ahead to make in independent decision to farm out pressing jobs.
-If you have no employees, set up an email template to inform your customers to expect delays due to whatever, and send it as a mass mailer as the first thing you do when you have a free moment.

 

[AnotherSignManiac]

Because other people are depending on you? It doesn't demand much effort.

-Set up call forwarding.
-If you have employees, and don't already have a production manager, set up someone as interim lead, or have everyone set up to execute their roles autonomously.
-Give that interim lead a set of keys.
-Get life insurance so you don't end up screwing your spouse or kids after you kick the bucket.
-Get some contacts from other local businesses that you can farm out to, and give your interim lead the go ahead to make in independent decision to farm out pressing jobs.
-If you have no employees, set up an email template to inform your customers to expect delays due to whatever, and send it as a mass mailer as the first thing you do when you have a free moment.

 

[Locals Find!]

Because other people are depending on you? It doesn't demand much effort.

-Set up call forwarding.
-If you have employees, and don't already have a production manager, set up someone as interim lead, or have everyone set up to execute their roles autonomously.
-Give that interim lead a set of keys.
-Get life insurance so you don't end up screwing your spouse or kids after you kick the bucket.
-Get some contacts from other local businesses that you can farm out to, and give your interim lead the go ahead to make in independent decision to farm out pressing jobs.
-If you have no employees, set up an email template to inform your customers to expect delays due to whatever, and send it as a mass mailer as the first thing you do when you have a free moment.

This is exactly the planning I was talking about. Not dwelling on the negative but, being prepared as possible for things that may happen.

 

[petepaz]

i think the easiest way to make a problem like a family loss or sickness that causes time away from the shop/office is just make sure you have multiple employees trained to do multiple jobs. fortunately for us we have 20 employees so we have at least 2 people that can do each job, most people are familiar with our filing of paperwork and artwork so we are pretty much set. we have also experienced this on too many occasions and we made it through ok ( i myself have had to be away for lost family members, immediate family on 2 occasions)

 

[cdiesel]

We have a pretty well defined hierarchy here, and our business functions for the most part while Jason and I are absent. Smaller businesses might not have that luxury. Planning for the owner's absense is a must, whether it be for an unexpected necessary trip, death, or just a vacation.

One other thing that is a must for anyone with partners is a buy/sell agreement that is backed by life insurance. We (my brother and I) have a very defined agreement that covers every scenario from one partner wanting to leave, to fraud, to death. If one of us passes, life insurance pays the other. That money is then used to buy the deceased's shares in the company from the deceased's family. Keeps spouses and other people who shouldn't be involved out of the picture. We also have other life insurance on each other, as I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to have to come to this place if I lost my brother. We've talked about having the company go to an employee owned arrangement if that were to happen, but that's not been put into the works yet..

 

[Gino]

You're all talking about different things and throwing them in a pot and saying do like the Boy Scouts and be prepared for whatever.

Well, in my post, I mentioned to get the proper insurance. That would be proper life insurance, disability insurance, business interruption and some others that I can't think of, but insurance-wise, we are covered for ANY issue that might occur. Will we use it ?? Depends on the individual situation. However, it's already set in place such as any responsible person would have set up and in the business arena, these things go without saying. That's why this thread is off the wall. Having all of these things setup is already covered in any accountable person's business, unless you're just not a good businessperson.

As for employees having keys, access to records and other business-related items.... two of our employees could run this business if I died tomorrow. If my wife and myself would suddenly perish, well there are enough work orders and paper flow trails to finish out each and every project without fail other than maybe the cost factor, which would be up to them to figure out.

We keep no secrets in our shop except from part-timers. They know nothing of pricing, costing or any other business related information. They are monkeys to do work and only work. Anything new, would be up the the next in charge..... were we to disappear.

Our employees know all of the vendors and would have the same attention and respect given to them as I get/got. Our vendors have been with us a very long time and would help our second in commands make the transition smoothly.

Now, back to the original statement..... being ready for all or any of this is almost for nothing, because one cannot prepare oneself for horrific things, whether to yourself or a loved one and you might act totally different if your kid is struck by a car vs. the passing of a parent... let alone something to your other half.

I first have a duty to my God, wife, family and country, in no particular order. [I've always said, I'm not a good Christian]. All others come second and unfortunately, business is down the list of my priorities, simply due to the fact... I've taken care of every conceivable measure the business community has to offer.


Look at the many here on s101 who have suffered great confrontations from children getting horribly hurt, to over-bearing surgeries, to dying and returning from the dead. Ask them how well they prepared. I'll bet you anything, they all thought they were pretty much in control. Well, when that something or someone comes knocking at your door.... you ain't gonna react under those conditions, the same way you thought you were going to when you had all your senses. Guaranteed !!

Get real and stop daydreaming about being a compassionate business owner whose customer's and job responsibilities come first. Unless you are totally distant from feelings, you won't re-act as you feel you will in certain cases. Again, only the ones you can't handle will do this. If you can totally function, it probalby doesn't bother you or your body is in auto-pilot mode and postponing the pain and will re-act later.

 

[cdiesel]

Like Pete, we have over 20 employees. I was just thinking about this the other day, as 4 out of 5 days a week, at least one person is out for one reason or another. We are continually planning for an absense and others are absorbing that person's workload on a daily basis.

 

[bob]

Well, Bob sorry I don't dislike my family members as much as you apparently do. I know when my wife needed emergency surgery and the ambulance picked her up. I wasn't thinking about signs. I am sure others would feel the same.

Where, exactly, did I even allude to a dislike of my family? I said that dying, unless you happen to vapor lock while driving at 75mph, does not constitute an emergency. It might be tragic, far-reaching, intense, emotional, life-changing, etc, but an emergency it's not.

Further, just how is your story of your wife needing emergency surgery germane to death being an emergency?

On a larger note: One should not plan for emergencies, one should be prepared to accommodate and deal with them. Planning for emergencies is pretty much a waste of time, whatever event that befalls you will unfold in ways for which you will never have planned. Being agile in your ability to cope with the external reality in such times will serve you better than drawing up plans. If you want to make the gods laugh, tell them your plans.

Besides, if you can plan for it, it isn't much of an emergency.

 

[ProWraps]

sucking the pipe

wait, is this thread about some sort of emergency, or smoking crack.

im confused.

 

[Fatboy]

Just reading this post once again reminds me in what a "wrong"world we living in.
Rush rush rush.......have to have my stuff today.Not judging.....I do this myself,but it is wrong.We should all be more chilled!