August marks the launch of Mission Workplace Consulting, created to provide comprehensive support to businesses and employers in Alberta when dealing with workplace related issues.
This venture is not something I was planning to undertake, and certainly not in the middle of a pandemic. However, it has become clear that many small businesses and employers have struggled to navigate the challenges of operating during this unprecedented time, some temporarily closing their business, or reopening and returning employees to the worksite.
I have spoken to many employers over the last few months and a common theme I have heard is the challenge of responding to the pandemic with very little notice. Many small to medium sized business don’t have dedicated internal resources to manage risk or labour related issues, in which case it is unlikely they have had the time or resources to consider what “business continuity” looks like to them. It is clear that many businesses have adapted to the pandemic to maintain operations, however the presence of a comprehensive business continuity plan could have made this transition easier and quicker.
Another area of concern has been employee health and safety. Some employers have operated uninterrupted throughout the pandemic, others have closed offices and allowed employees to work from home, some have done a mixture of both. The Province has been providing advice to employers throughout the pandemic, although there is not a one size fits all. For some employers returning employees to the worksite is not a simple decision, and it is important to weigh the pro’s and con’s of doing so, even if the Province says you can. Creating a comprehensive, common sense return to work plan is key to ensuring employee safety.
With over 20 years of inspection, investigation and regulatory compliance experience in both the public and private sector these are areas where I believe Mission Workplace Consulting can provide support to businesses and employers and why now seemed the right time to start this company.
If you require support with workplace training, policy development or regulatory compliance please connect with me at pmincher@missionworkplace.ca