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| Arup highlights deep concern amongst the UK workforce Over half (56%) of British companies have taken no measures to prepare for the disruption to their business and employees a terrorist attack would cause, according to a survey of 400 organisations by global consulting business Arup. The research points to growing tensions between employees and employers over the levels of adequate emergency planning required to ensure safety and continuity of business. • Almost 60% of senior managers interviewed were unsure as to whether their organisations would even survive a major disruption (the example given was the impact of the Buncefield Depot fire on local business) but only 40% of those interviewed have taken the time to root out potential vulnerabilities to this type of incident. • Almost half of employees (43%) would consider changing jobs if their organisations did not do more to make them feel sufficiently protected against major threats, and 79% of employees say that, in the modern climate, they need to feel more protected at work – yet despite this, 39% of firms still haven't got robust emergency plans in place or have failed to communicate these plans effectively at senior manager level. • Employees felt that almost everyone (92%) has a role to play in protecting the organisation but needed business leaders to take responsibility for protecting them against pandemics (74% have yet to consider the implications of Birdflu), and other forms of disruption. Other key headlines from the research included: • Less than 20% of employees get a regular briefing on emergency response plans • 80% of employees would like their business to have a response plan in place • 79% of employees need to feel protected at work • Only 36% of firms would have a co-ordinated approach to managing a disruption • Given the time, 60% of company managers would prefer to 'root out vulnerabilities' before problems occur • 63% of firms don't review plans more than quarterly write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |