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How to support your team and protect your business through the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand

The recent weather events in New Zealand are having a significant impact. Here's how you can support your team and protect your business.
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Published 31 Jan 2023
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Updated 5 May 2023
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6min read
Street with surface level flooding and a warning sign requesting a detour

New Zealand has been facing the full force of recent wild weather events. With extreme flooding in Auckland and Northland, followed by a destructive cyclone, the Government has now declared a national state of emergency.

This weather has caused devastation to houses and businesses, and tragically, the loss of lives. Right now, the country is in a state of shock as we work to respond and recover from the last couple of weeks. From a business point of view, it’s critical that employers are continuing to support their teams.

We’ve created a few key scenarios with guidance that employers can work through. As the situation evolves, follow the NZ Civil Defence for the most up to date evacuation orders and MetService for upcoming forecasts and weather warnings.

For emergency assistance, call 111. 

If your business is in an area at risk of flooding:

Support your team with flexible working

During a natural disaster, people may need to evacuate from your office area. There might also be evacuations in your workers’ communities. Nearby events may also require employees to be ready to support loved ones in affected areas.

With so many being impacted, you may need close premises and if possible, offer remote working to your team. While the pandemic familiarised us with remote working, here’s a reminder of the basic elements that you need to have a functioning distributed team:

  • Employees need to have the correct equipment that they need to do their work – in its most essential form this will likely be a laptop with a charger that can be easily transported between work, home and anywhere else.
  • Ensure working documents are housed on the cloud – your staff will have easy digital access to the documents and drives that they need.
  • Make use of digital HR and payroll software (we can lend a hand with this one).

If you have all of these ready to go, your team can stay away from the office as long as they need. This gives you plenty of time to ensure a safe return and gives your staff the flexibility to work from wherever is best for them as the community recovers.

If not yet affected, take steps protect your premises

If your business premises has not yet been affected by flooding but potentially could be, there are a few steps you can take in advance:

  • Move any computers or other valuable electrical equipment from areas that are low to the ground.
  • Install non return valves in your toilets and drains.
  • Identify stock, equipment and possessions that may require special protection during the flood.
  • Note the location of any hazardous materials that may be in your workplace – chemicals, oils and other substances should be stored safely so they will not contaminate flood waters.
  • Note the location of cut-off points for gas, electricity and water so you know where to find them in an emergency.

If your staff are currently located in flood zones:

With the extent of the damage from the flooding and the cyclone, it’s very likely that even if your business is not located in a disaster zone – some of your team are.

There may be evacuations in your workers’ communities, or employees may also be required to support loved ones in affected areas. Some may even be cut off with limited communication to the rest of the country.

Employees may be experiencing loss or damage to their property. Many will be feeling mentally and emotionally shaken from the last couple of weeks. Take these steps to care for your employees in this difficult time.

Give them flexibility

The best thing you can do is give your employees the time and flexibility to cope.

If you can, encourage your employees to work remotely, not only during the crisis period, but for as long as they need following the recent flooding. This can help your team ease back into work, and they will greatly appreciate you for it in the long run.

Keep communicating

Natural disasters can become incredibly frantic. It’s easy to lose track of your loved ones, friends and colleagues. This makes regular crisis communications absolutely essential.

When communicating with your team who are affected by the disasters, try to keep messages as clear and easy-to-understand as possible.

Try using these techniques to send the most effective messages:

  • Give short and regular safety updates during rapidly changing situations.
  • Provide an emergency contact of someone at your business.
  • Avoid any language or phrases that might create more fear around the situation.
  • Be as empathetic as possible, it’s a difficult situation for everyone involved.
  • Share details of the government channels where your employees can find official updates and official emergency contact numbers.

Send these message blasts directly to employees’ mobile phones – don’t just circulate information to their work emails.

Remember as well, that some of your team, especially if they’re based in Gisborne or Hawke’s Bay, may be without power. If you have reason to believe someone is lost and in danger, there is a reporting form to use. However, it’s likely that communications will start back up in the coming days and early reports indicate that internet-based messaging apps like WhatsApp are proving more reliable than traditional phone calls or texts.

Keep communicating with your employees throughout the disaster, and be sure to check in on each one individually afterwards.

Share key support details

Natural disasters can upend anyone’s mental health. Be proactive and share mental health support details with your entire team.

Mental health guidance in New Zealand includes:

  • If you need to speak to a trained counsellor, free call or text 1737.
  • You can also call Lifeline 24/7 on 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) for crisis support. More information.
  • In an emergency, call 111.

Natural disasters also have huge financial repercussions for affected individuals. With each disaster costing millions to recover from, chances are one – if not several – of your employees will be experiencing financial stress.

While businesses may not be able to offer any additional monetary support, there are resources that you can share with your team. Current avenues of support include:

  • Financial support from Civil Defence – people can call 0800 400 100 for help with emergency costs.
  • Contacting their insurer, who will lodge a claim to Toka TĹ« Ake EQC on their behalf.

If you’re cleaning up a premises following flooding:

Once the flooding has ceased, many business owners will be tasked with recovering their damaged premises. Auckland Council has shared the following advice for cleaning up a flooded building, which will apply to many across the country in the coming days.

  • It’s important to clean and dry your premises and everything in it. Floodwater may contain sewage and other hazardous materials.
  • If your gas meter has been affected by water or debris, contact your gas supplier.
  • Always work safely when cleaning up after a flood by wearing protective clothing and washing hands thoroughly after clean-up and before handling food.
  • Take photos and videos of the damage and anything that needs to be thrown away before starting the clean up, for insurance purposes.
  • Clean up, drain, and dry inside as quickly as possible. Take out everything that is wet and that can be moved, such as floor coverings, furniture or clothing, and put them outside to dry when the weather is warm.
  • Throw away all food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater.

If you’re considering your options for compensation due to damage:

The full extent of business support hasn’t yet been made clear. However, the Government has announced a $11.5 million funding package to support those affected by the floods and cyclone in the coming months, and that’s expected to include business support.

In the first instance, business owners should speak to their insurance companies and to their bank. Banks such as ASB, BNZ, Westpac and KiwiBank have announced support packages for business customers, such as access to working capital and temporary overdrafts.

For more disaster relief tools and the latest announcements, visit the Civil Defence website.

 

From the Employment Hero team, we are thinking of you. Please stay safe. We wish you and your business all the best through these challenging times.

For more information on how to prepare for and support your team through a natural disaster, download our guide for SMEs here.

 

Jen Denny
Content Marketing Specialist - Employment Hero
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