As some well-known restaurant chains like Subway and Twin Peaks have discovered over the past month, bad news often comes when you least expect it.
And in our world of instant communications, the speed at which a story can drag your name and your brand through the mud is now measured in milliseconds.
Is your company ready if it happens to you?
For decades, we have been proactively helping clients develop crisis plans before they are needed. It’s time consuming. It costs money. But when the crisis strikes, as it eventually will, the ability to respond professionally rather than react emotionally is worth every penny and every minute you spend putting a plan in place.
Crisis plans are not the place to cut corners, push until next year’s budget or struggle to find the time to prioritize. Because when a crisis hits, it rapidly becomes the top priority.
The most common crises your company should be aware of
Ask yourself if your company is prepared to handle one or more of the following:
workplace violence
arrest of a company officer or employee
robbery or burglary
layoffs
sexual harassment
assault and/or battery
natural disasters
hostage situations or kidnapping
financial difficulties
controversial advertising
employee strikes
lawsuits
negative legislation
extortion or embezzlement
class-action suits
accidental death
food poisoning or health scares
protests or demonstrations
These are just a few of the potential problems your business may face one day when you least expect it.
What will you do when it happens?
If the answer is, “I’m not sure,” you should contact us today. We can’t prevent a crisis from happening, but we can have you prepared when the bad news hits.
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