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Deloitte research found that extreme weather events frequently affected day-to-day workforce dynamics far beyond missed shifts.
Deloitte’s research found that weather-related disruption frequently affected day-to-day workforce dynamics far beyond missed shifts. Resulting health challenges and financial hardship can affect productivity and work quality, per the report.
As a result, 54% of respondents across 17 countries said they were taking steps to improve their personal and household resilience from weather and environmental damage, including stocking up on non-perishable food, purchasing emergency supplies, or investing in heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades.
Deloitte said these kinds of preparations suggest a heightened individual risk perception in the workforce and should prompt companies to question the extent to which workforce resilience should be part of their overall risk management and human capital strategy.
Organizations that don’t account for household-level extreme weather effects on workers “may systematically underestimate their exposure,” per the report.
Recent research has also found that climate change might also affect the cost of health insurance plans as well as on-the-job worker safety.
To help organizations better account for structural vulnerabilities brought about by weather-related challenges, the report suggested asking questions about which roles, sites and teams could be “most vulnerable to weather-related impacts and absenteeism” and how effective any contingency plans are if multiple employees or groups are affected at the same time.
Deloitte also suggested examining where support could be provided “to help workers cope with heat stress, poor air quality, and other environmental stressors.” The report said that even “modest interventions” such as flexible scheduling, emergency leave and transit assistance could provide meaningful assistance to employees in need.
“The frequency and severity of extreme weather are likely to increase in the years ahead,” the report said. “By recognizing it as a workforce issue impacting personal and operational resilience, organizations can better align investments with the realities that employees and the business face. In doing so, organizations not only protect operational performance, but also build a more adaptive, loyal, and resilient workforce in the face of growing climatic uncertainty.”
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An update to our conference list includes the latest dates and locations organizers have shared — as well as a few new events.
Technology implementation is creeping upwards on the to-do lists of global HR leaders, yet few believe their organizations have the necessary capabilities in place.
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Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts
An update to our conference list includes the latest dates and locations organizers have shared — as well as a few new events.
Technology implementation is creeping upwards on the to-do lists of global HR leaders, yet few believe their organizations have the necessary capabilities in place.
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