We’re all in this together: Surviving a corporate catastrophe

I sit here in Melbourne and watch the TV footage of the unfolding flood catastrophe in Queensland. I have many friends in Brisbane; a few have evacuated their houses. One I know has a thriving retail business which is now underwater. I think to myself what would I do if it was my business?

After attending to my family, my first priority would be to my staff and there is a good post here from Dynamic Business on practical things you can do to assist them in a crisis situation. They have families and homes of their own to protect. I would ensure they stay with them and where possible I would continue to pay them. If they needed extra money to assist with emergency accommodation or other expenses, I would also try to assist.

Apart from it simply being the right thing to do, the long-term loyalty, respect and engagement you will gain from providing your staff with assistance will reap productive dividends when you need them most, when your business is recovering.

I know my clients would understand if my company was temporarily unable to deliver the services they request. In circumstances such as those facing Queenslanders now, suppliers, vendors and customers will need to work together in true partnership to get themselves back on their feet. Only true partnerships built on mutual understanding and respect will survive a crisis of the magnitude Queenslanders are experiencing.

The current situation will also sorely test the Australian banking and insurance sectors. Do they really have a social conscience? Will they help by deferring payments, reducing interest rates and cancelling debts? In many cases the sector was found sorely wanting in Victoria after the Black Saturday bush fires. Hopefully they will have learned their lesson and be more amenable in Queensland.

In times such as these Australians and Kiwis have an innate sense of mateship borne out of the pioneering spirit that established our great nations. It was further forged in the trenches of Gallipoli and Flanders and the marches in Kokoda and Sandukan. We see this spirit now in Queensland as strangers help each other out. Businesses should likewise harness this spirit, it will see them through. After all, we’re all in this together.

If your business has been affected by the floods and you require financial assistance contact the Queensland Government Flood Assistance page.

If you and your family have been affected by the floods and require financial assistance contact Queensland Government Community Services and/or Centrelink