Olympics Business Advice – last minute tips for businesses

Now that we are two days away from the opening ceremony and Olympic lanes are open on the roads businesses may have already begun to feel the effects of the Games. London will be busier than ever and disruption across the city is widely expected. A recent MWB Business Exhange survey of 430 London-based companies located in travel hotspots found that 30% of these businesses had not made any contingency plans. If your company hasn’t made any preparations, don’t worry there are still some practical steps you can take:

1) Consider realistically and honestly the challenges – logistical and organisational – your company will likely face and how they will affect your business e.g. increased staffing needs, moonlighting, absence, dual working. You may already have seen some of these symptoms, don’t ignore them. Handle each situation clearly and make sure employees are made aware of the way the company is addressing these issues.

2) Following on from this make sure company policy is clear and that any non-compliance is both monitored and addressed. Other employees will be looking to see what happens to their coworker who doesn’t show up to work.

3) Make sure there is a system in place so employees know who to call when they will be absent. This is crucial for information flow and continuing operations without disruption.

4) Consider flexible arrangements for employees coming into work and ensure there is a backup plan for any transport related problems. Everyone will have to work together to make sure business is able to continue as normal.

5) Make the Olympics a fun time! There is enough media coverage to worry people about disruption to their everyday lives. Help employees make the most of the Games by showing events on TVs, encouraging discussion about how teams are performing, and maybe even providing updates on important events.

The Games will be over before we know it so make the most of this exciting time in Britain but don’t ignore any warning signs that present themselves in your business.