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Jane Heidingsfelder can be reached at jheidingsfelder@joneswalker.com or 504.582.8306.

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires can strike with little warning, bringing business operations to a halt and deeply affecting the lives of employees. In recent years, we’ve seen how quickly a crisis can disrupt not just infrastructure but also the human fabric of a workplace. For employers, the stakes are high: protecting people, maintaining productivity, and ensuring legal compliance — all while navigating uncertainty.

To minimize disruption and support recovery, businesses must proactively develop and communicate clear disaster response strategies. This includes crisis management protocols, employee communication plans, and recovery frameworks that prioritize both operational continuity and employee well-being. A well-prepared organization can respond swiftly, reduce confusion, and help employees return to work safely and confidently — even in the face of personal loss.Continue Reading Ready, Set, Recover: Building a Crisis-Ready Workplace

With hurricane season upon us, employers are justifiably concerned about the potential impact of a natural disaster on their business. A hurricane, natural disaster, or any other crisis in the workplace can bring a business to a screeching halt and devastate the lives of a business’s most valuable asset, its employees.

To minimize the impact of a natural disaster, employers should have plans in place before disaster strikes, including, for example, a crisis management plan, a communication plan, and a disaster response and recovery plan. These plans must take into account the effect a catastrophe may have on workers and include ways to help impacted employees return to work as soon as practical to ensure continued productivity at the workplace following a natural disaster. Any enacted plan should consider the application of relevant federal and state laws to ensure compliance and avoid any employment-related lawsuits or any agency enforcement action following a natural disaster.
Continue Reading Planning for a Catastrophe