When your office closes for a hurricane and your employees walk out the door, do you know where they will be during the storm? Will they be at home, in a shelter, or with family or friends?

“The success of your business may count on your being able to find your employees,” says Department of Labour and Pensions Director Mario Ebanks. “The start of hurricane season each 1 June is a good time to review emergency plans, and we encourage all businesses to update their contact information for employees.”

The department is recommending that employee information include: telephone contact information, residential address, and person(s) to be contacted in case of emergency.

Businesses frequently ask employees where they plan to be during the storm. Not only does this mean that the employer can find staff, but also this means that the employee plans ahead. An important action for every family and business living and operating in the storm belt.

The department also recommends that updated contact lists be readily available to more than one individual and accessible from alternate sites. Remember, redundancies and contingencies are the necessities of business continuity.

 In preparation for the hurricane season, business owners are also asked to ensure that all employees’ health insurance and pension payments are current. Employees should ensure that their travel documents, like passports and visas, are up to date.

The Department of Labour and Pensions is now located on the 2nd floor of Mid Town Plaza on Elgin Avenue and is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday; telephone: 945-8960, fax: 945-8961, confidential hotline for labour and pensions complaints: 945-3073.