Glossary of Threats

Hurricanes: When large amounts of air heat up over the ocean and absorb moisture, conditions are right for a hurricane. Fierce rains and winds gravitate around the center, or eye, of the hurricane. If they travel inland, hurricanes rapidly lose strength - but can still cause flooding and massive destruction to businesses and homes, structural and power failures, economic disruption, and injury or death. The season usually lasts from June 1 - November 30, with primary activity in August and September.

Labor Disputes: A labor dispute or strike may occur when a union or group of workers, dissatisfied with one or more working conditions, is unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with employers. Employees may strike due to the conflict with an employer over wages, contract negotiations, hours, work environment, benefits, or other factors deemed crucial. Businesses unprepared for the consequences of many workers walking off the job for days, weeks or months face potential delays, financial loss, and resentment from workers, negative press, and/or a temporary or permanent closing.

Legal Problems: Legal problems are a constant threat to businesses that are not conscious of the fact that they are preventable. If they are ignored, legal issues can be both costly and time consuming. Businesses can run into a variety of legal problems including health and safety regulations, workplace harassment, contract disputes, hiring and firing, copyright disputes, and employee discrimination. Disputes can arise from dealings with the outside world, or just as easily, within the company, particularly when it comes to dealing with employees. It is important for a business to know the laws that apply to its business operations, and to be aware of the regulations that govern the rights of workers.

Loss of Workforce: Businesses suffer a loss of workforce when employees are unable or unwilling to report for work. Any number of facts may account for the loss, including inclement weather, illness, labor disputes, group travel, and work access restrictions. The reason for the staffing deficiency will dictate whether fill-in personnel or skeleton crews can maintain business continuity, or whether the impact on the company will be short or long term. Most potential shortages can be anticipated prior to their onset, giving organizations some time to prepare for and minimize the impact. Other workforce losses can arise without warning, making it uncertain when normal staffing will resume.