www.thebci.

org

Coronavirus
Organizational
Preparedness
20.03.2020
 Foreword
Headline to go here
over a few lines.
Tim Janes In these extraordinary times it’s encouraging that so many BCI members found time
Hon FBCI, to contribute to this, the first of the BCI’s Coronavirus Organizational Preparedness
Chair of the BCI Reports.
We know that many organizations feel “exposed” in the face of the COVID-19
pandemic. I hope that by sharing these details about the real action taken by
organizations, this report will provide insight and reassurance, and trigger activity in
areas where there is still work to be done. There really is no time to lose.
The report reinforces the collaborative reality of organizational resilience. Business
continuity professionals are working with their colleagues in HR to address health
and welfare concerns, and with IT to ensure the effectiveness of remote working.
These are just two examples of the huge collective effort that will be required for
organizations to persevere through this unprecedented crisis.
We are only at the start of the battle against the Coronavirus. Business continuity
strategies and infrastructure will be tested as never before in the coming months.
As continuity professionals, we must consider the sustainability of the measures our
organizations are implementing, so they are workable over the long-term.
Future reports will no doubt reflect on this and the many other challenges we will all
face in coming months, as well as the solutions we create in response.
I sincerely hope this report provides practical value for you and your colleagues
during this uniquely demanding and complex pandemic.
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 HR/Staff
Headline to Measures
go here
over a few lines.
• Organizations are advanced in their planning if a staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19: Just over two-thirds (69.7%) have
a plan in place if a staff member is diagnosed with the Coronavirus, and a further 15.9% are intending to put plans in place. Most
(67.0%) have also introduced policies to allow quarantining staff to work from home, and a further two-thirds (66.4%) have
implemented a work-from-home policy for some employees. For those organizations which require staff to be physically present in
the office, just over a third (39.1%) have rostered staff so a reduced number are in the building at any one time.
• Working from home is not yet universal: Despite the majority of responses coming from the services sector, less than half (47.3%)
of organizations have implemented a work-from-home policy for all employees and a similar proportion (49.1%) have introduced
policies to allow staff to care for sick relatives. Given many countries are now closing schools, it is encouraging that most
organizations are either allowing staff to work from home to look after children (58.6%) or are considering it (21.7%).
• HR policies are being reviewed and altered, where appropriate, to meet with the demands of the current environment:
Overall, organizations are being fairly rigorous around their HR procedures: most of organizations (58.7%) already reviewed job roles
to ensure key processes can be carried out by skeleton staff, and nearly two-thirds (63.6%) have reviewed staff sickness policies to
make it consistent with public health or government guidance.
• Many organizations still have yet to go “beyond the basics” for staff: Most organizations are making COVID-19 specific
HR/staff plans, but there are still some have yet to define key measures: 14.0% do not plan to have a helpline or point person for staff
to register personal concerns about COVID-19, and nearly 1 in 10 (9.8%) are not planning to implement leave policies to allow staff
to care for sick relatives. Some of the lack of implementation are likely to due to financial concerns however, and as different
governments/councils start to offer relief measures for organizations within their jurisdiction, it is likely we will see these numbers rise
as the pandemic progresses.

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 Which of the following HR and staff measures have you taken or are
Headline to go here
considering taking in your organization?

over a few lines.

Ensured a plan is in place if a staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19. 69.7% 15.8% 4.7% 8.1% 1.7%

Implemented non-punitive leave policies to allow quarantining staff to work from home 67.0% 16.6% 4.9% 6.4% 5.1%

Implemented a work-from-home policy for certain employees 66.4% 16.1% 2.3%

1.5% 13.7%

Reviewed staff sickness policy to make it consistent with public health/government guidance 63.6% 16.5% 5.6% 9.4% 4.9%

Reviewed job roles to ensure key processes can be carried out by skeleton staff 58.7% 23.9% 6.3% 6.1% 5.1%

Allowed staff to work from home to look after children in case of school/nursery closures 58.6% 21.7% 7.7% 7.7% 4.3%

Ensured staff have a dedicated helpline or contact to share personal concerns about COVID-
56.2% 14.7% 14.0% 9.4% 5.7%
19.

Implemented a work-from-home policy for all employees 47.3% 28.3% 12.2% 2.6% 9.6%

Implemented leave policies to allow staff to care for sick relatives 49.1% 24.1% 9.8% 14.1% 3.0%

“Rostered” staff so those with identical/similar roles are not in the office at the same time 39.1% 26.5% 15.8% 5.8% 12.8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Already implementing Considering implementing Not considering implementing Unsure Not applicable

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 Health to
Headline & goHygiene
here
over a few lines.
• Most organizations have a good hygiene processes in place for staff: 92.4% have provided staff with messages on hygiene in
the workplace, with a further 3.3% are planning to. Although hand sanitizer has been hard to acquire, 88.6% of organizations have
been able to provide this to their staff, with a further 5.3% planning to. Furthermore, 64.5% of organizations have provided wipes in
office spaces, with a further 12.7% planning to. We noted it is smaller organizations who are more likely to not have santization
products available, and this is likely to be a result of having to rely on consumer channels to acquire these types of goods.
• Thinking beyond basic hygiene processes is vital, but many organizations still have yet to complete operational plans:
Interestingly, whilst 4 in 5 organizations have instructed office cleaners to engage in more thorough cleaning, less than half (41.5%)
have sought emergency out-of-hours cleaning companies to deep clean corporate and operational customer facing sites in the event
of infection occurring. Furthermore, under a third (29.9%) of organizations have an emergency room (either a dedicated medical
room or repurposed office) where staff exhibiting symptoms can immediately isolate. Both are simple measures which are advised by
health organizations and can be help in stopping spread of the disease in an office environment.
• No handshaking is becoming the new normality: Nearly two-thirds (63.4%) of organizations have no enforced a “no handshake”
policy, but perhaps of more concern is the 7.4% who are not planning to. Whilst handshakes can readily transmit the virus between
humans, the offer of a hand to shake is now frowned upon in many business situations.
• Organizations health and hygiene processes are likely to become more personal as employees increasingly work from
home; Going forward, as more and more organizations start to move towards work-from-home policies and operating from within
countries where “lock down” policies are in place, we will likely see these questions change towards health and hygiene
requirements for remote staff.

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 Which of the following health and hygiene measures have you taken or are
Headline to go here
considering taking in your organization?

over a few lines.

Provided staff with messages on hygiene in the workplace 92.4% 3.3%
1.5%
0.6%
2.3%

Provided hand sanitizer in office spaces 88.6% 5.3% 3.2%

0.4%
2.5%

Instructed office cleaners to engage in more thorough daily cleansing 78.7% 9.0% 3.3% 5.0% 4.0%

Enforced a non-handshake policy 63.4% 15.7% 11.6% 7.4% 1.9%

Provided wipes in office spaces 64.5% 12.7% 15.6% 3.1%4.2%

Acquired emergency (out of hours) cleaning companies to deep clean corporate and
41.5% 19.8% 14.4% 13.3% 11.0%
operational customer facing sites in the event of infection occurring

Have an emergency room where staff exhibiting symptoms can immediately isolate before
29.0% 18.2% 25.7% 15.9% 11.1%
seeking medical help

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Already implementing Considering implementing Not considering implementing Unsure Not applicable

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 Travel to go here
Headline
over a few lines.
• International travel bans are becoming universal: Most organizations (77.8%) have now implemented international travel bans,
with a further 8.8% considering implementation. However, with many organizations facing international travel bans by their own
governments, this option will be or will soon be obsolete for some. A similar measure which may soon become obsolete for most is
that over three-quarters (77.4%) of organizations are asking staff to work from home for seven or more days if returning from
holiday/travel in “high risk” countries. However, whether this measure becomes obsolete or not, it serves as guidance for
organizations on best practice measures to take in the case of a future pandemic or global crisis.
• Domestic travel is now rare, although 1 in 10 organizations are reluctant to ban such travel: Whilst domestic travel still
continues with government restriction in many countries, many organizations have already banned domestic travel: two thirds
(67.0%) of organizations have put a ban on such travel, although 8.3% report that they will not consider implementing such a
strategy. Although many organizations will find they have to restrict domestic travel as the pandemic progresses, the near 1 in 10
organizations who will not consider implementing a strategy may need to reconsider how the business can continue to operate if
widespread domestic bans are imposed.
• Flexible travel times are being considered for those who rely on public transport; Some organizations are allowing staff to alter
their hours so rush hour crowds can be avoiding on public transport: nearly a third (31.1%) of organizations have already
implemented such a measure, with a further 23.0% considering it. For organizations with staff who have to be present on site, such
measures can offer an additional level of protection. In the coming weeks, organizations may have to go beyond considering public
transport habits as countries start to shut down rail and bus networks, so measures such as dedicated minibuses or taxi services
may have to be considered for staff who do not have the means to drive.

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 Which of the following travel measures have you taken or are considering
Headline to go here
taking in your organization?

over a few lines.

Implemented an international travel ban 77.8% 8.8% 3.9%
1.4% 8.1%

Asked staff to work-from-home for seven or more days if returning from

77.3% 8.2% 4.0% 4.7% 5.8%
holiday/travel in “high risk” countries

Implemented a domestic travel ban (e.g. to external meetings and events) 67.0% 20.8% 8.3% 2.8%
1.2%

Allowed staff who travel on public transport to alter working hours to avoid crowds 31.1% 23.0% 21.6% 12.1% 12.3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Already implementing Considering implementing Not considering implementing Unsure Not applicable

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 IT, technology
Headline to go hereand telecoms
over a few lines.
• Meetings are being moved into virtual environments: 87.4% of organizations have transferred meetings to conference calls where
possible, with a further 9.8% planning to do so. Although many organizations will have been using virtual meeting environments for
many years, for some smaller organizations or those with lower budget, non face-to-face meetings will be a new concept. For
organizations who have not considered such technology before, many collaboration tool vendors are offering organizations free or
enhanced services during the outbreak: Microsoft, Google, Slack, Zoom, Cisco and LogMeIn are some of the big-name providers who
are offering some or all of their services for free.
• Cyber security measures are being stepped up to address staff working from home: 78.5% of organizations have ensured staff
who are working from home have acceptable cyber security measures in place, and 64.9% have reviewed cyber-security arrangements
to ensure systems will remain secure in case of mass staff absences. Increasing staff education of potential phishing attacks may also
be advisable due to cyber-criminals using the Coronavirus outbreak to target people. The UK National Cyber Security Centre has
already identified several attacks related to COVID-19 (Link).
• Companies are ensuring IT can handle peak and non-peak times, but what about third parties?: Whilst 73.7% of organizations
have ensured systems can cope with multiple users accessing systems at peak times, it is also timely to review the impact external
outages could have on operations: Netflix and YouTube are reducing streaming quality to ensure global data can continue to flow, but
some online collaboration services have already reported downtime issues due to heavy usage.
• Good communications is crucial during periods of disruption: With many staff working remotely and concerned about their
wellbeing during this period, most companies are stepping up their internal and external communication strategies. 80.1% of
organizations have received a message from the Board regarding the current outbreak, and 74.0% of organizations have ensured that
there is a robust communications strategy in place so staff can be contacted in an emergency. However, many have yet to address their
external communications plan: 61.6% of organizations have an external communications plan in place should a staff member become
infected, although a further 19.8% are planning to do so.

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 Which of the following IT, technology and communications measures have
Headline to go here
you taken or are considering taking in your organization?

over a few lines.

Transferred meetings to conference calls where possible 87.4% 9.8% 2.0%
0.4%
0.4%

Ensured staff who are working from home have acceptable cyber-security measures in place 78.5% 11.8% 2.8% 5.5%1.4%

Message from CEO /Chief Medical officer regarding COVID-19 communicated internally to all
80.1% 7.4% 5.0%2.4%5.2%
staff

Ensured a robust communications strategy is in place so staff can be contacted in an

74.0% 16.6% 3.4%4.4%
1.6%
emergency

Internal communications regarding medical advice and company procedures provided to staff
75.9% 11.4% 4.0%4.2% 4.6%
(e.g. dedicated intranet site with updated information)

Ensured IT capabilities support working from home measures to cover peak and non-peak
73.7% 14.1% 3.2% 6.2% 2.8%
times

Ensured a communications strategy is in place to allow staff to communicate in the event a

71.7% 16.1% 3.2% 5.4% 3.6%
universal “work from home” policy is adopted.

Reviewed cyber-security arrangements to ensure all systems will remain secure in case of
64.9% 16.3% 3.4% 12.8% 2.6%
mass-staff absences

Ensured there is an external communications plan in place should a staff member/members

61.6% 19.8% 5.0% 10.8% 2.8%
become infected.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Already implementing Considering implementing Not considering implementing Unsure Not applicable

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 SupplytoChain
Headline go here
over a few lines.
• Supply chain preparations lag other areas: Only just over half (55.5%) of organizations have reviewed the business continuity plans
of key suppliers to ensure continuity of service, although a further quarter (24.1%) of organizations are planning to do so. For those
companies that have not already done so, it would be advisable to implement such processes as soon as possible so plans can be
made if there are concerns about suppliers not being able to deliver continued service.
• Nearly 4 in 10 organizations have changed suppliers or are considering changing suppliers to ensure continuity of goods:
16.2% of organizations have already sourced new suppliers to ensure operations can continue, and a further 24.1% are planning to.
When the crisis first hit China, there were concerns that organizations would be unable to source goods with factories closing and
operating on skeleton staff. Wuhan has around 500 manufacturing facilities alone. However, with China now reopening factories,
concerns are now emanating from new geographies and even amongst domestic suppliers: for example, a specialty swab
manufacturer based in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, Copan Diagnostics, is asking all customers and distributors to ration
orders to maximise output (Link).
• Local suppliers are reaping some benefits: Considering sourcing goods to local suppliers is an option for some businesses, and
16.4% have already done so, with a further 21.4% considering it. With few positives so far to report from the Coronavirus outbreak, the
possibility of some businesses retaining local suppliers post-pandemic is likely and could kick-start more local sourcing thus helping
companies to meet emissions targets.

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 Which of the following supply chain measures have you taken or are
Headline to go here
considering taking in your organization?

over a few lines.

Reviewed the business continuity plans of key suppliers to ensure continuity of service 55.5% 24.1% 5.2% 10.6% 4.6%

Changed suppliers to ensure continuity of goods 16.2% 24.1% 21.4% 18.4% 19.8%

Moved to source goods from local suppliers 16.4% 21.4% 19.0% 20.0% 23.1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Already implementing Considering implementing Not considering implementing Unsure Not applicable

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 Business
Headline to goContinuity
here Plans
over a few lines.
• Incident management and crisis management teams are being activated: 70.9% of organizations have activated their Incident
Management teams to manage the business disruption through providing key information and resources of departments, and a further
69.2% have activated Strategic Crisis Management teams. Strategic management teams have a vital role within the current climate due
to the business and political environment changing daily.
• Recovery plans are being drawn up and non-prioritized services identified: At this stage, just over half of organizations have
identified all non-prioritized services and ensured staff are aware of what they will stop doing when BC plans are activated. A further
quarter (26.4%) are planning to do this. Just under half (45.6%) of organizations have drawn up recovery plans (i.e. how to move from
the response to the recovery stage as per ISO22301 clause 8.4.5) and a further 29.8% are planning to do this.
• Many organizations have not been diligent with exercising their plans: Just over half of organizations have exercised their plans in
the last 12 months (56.6%). This is a key step with preparedness plans such as business continuity plans to ensure they are fit for
purpose and cover all aspects the organization may have to deal with such as loss of staff, wellbeing and working from home/remotely.
For those who have not yet exercised plans, it is crucial to do so as soon as possible: Lloyds closed its entire underwriting room for an
entire day on 13 March to test its business continuity plan in the event of a shutdown; an unpresented but necessary measure (Link).
• Organizations need to ensure BC plans are sustainable: 60.9% of organizations have already considered how sustainable the
business continuity response plan is and a further 22.5% are considering it. Many organizations are well adept at planning for short term
disruption, but ensuring a continued response can be delivered over a sustained period of months is vital.
• Ensure plans are drawn up for all sites, not just HQ: In an event that causes disruption, it is often operational or customer facing
sites that are affected and not just those in a head office. Just over half (55.5%) have ensured there are plans/checklists in place for
procedures in the of an outbreak at any operational/ customer facing sites and 20.0% are considering plans for such sites.

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 Which of the following measures have you taken regarding your
Headline to go here
organization's business continuity plan?

over a few lines.

Activated Incident Management teams to manage the business disruption 70.89% 13.10% 5.82% 4.78% 5.41%

Activated Strategic Crisis Management teams to oversee strategic business changes 69.23% 13.10% 5.61% 7.07% 4.99%

Considered how sustainable the business continuity response is 60.91% 22.45% 6.44% 8.52% 1.66%

Ensured all plans have been exercised within the last 12 months 56.64% 18.88% 10.37% 9.96% 4.15%

Ensured there is a plan/checklist in place for procedures in the event there is an

55.51% 19.96% 5.20% 11.64% 7.69%
outbreak at any operational/customer facing sites

Identified all non-prioritised services and staff are aware of what they will stop doing
52.49% 26.35% 6.85% 9.96% 4.36%
when BC Plans are activated

Recovery plans have been drawn up (i.e. how the organisation will move from the BC
45.63% 29.79% 6.46% 14.79% 3.33%
response stage to the recovery stage as per ISO22301 clause 8.4.5)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Already implementing Considering implementing Not considering implementing Unsure Not applicable

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 About the
Headline to goauthors
here
over a few lines.
Rachael Elliott (Head of Thought Leadership)
Rachael has twenty years’ experience leading commercial research within organizations such as HSBC,
BDO LLP, Marakon Associates, CBRE and BCMS. She has particular expertise in the technology &
telecoms, retail, manufacturing and real estate sectors. Her research has been used in Parliament to
help develop government industrial strategy and the BDO High Street Sales Tracker, which Rachael was
instrumental in developing, is still the UK’s primary barometer for tracking high street sales
performance. She maintains a keen interest in competitive intelligence and investigative research
techniques.
She can be contacted at rachael.elliott@thebci.org

Catherine Thomas (Research and Insight Manager)

Catherine comes from a resilience background in central and local government with a particular focus in
public health and community incident response. She holds a Masters degree in Forensic Investigation
from Cranfield University and a BSc in Forensic Investigation from Canterbury Christ Church University.
She has a background in research from an analytical and qualitative perspective and has a particular
interest in delving into the qualitative detail behind our surveys through investigative research.
She can be contacted at catherine.thomas@thebci.org

The BCI would also like to thank Martin Fenlon FBCI and Rina Singh MBCI for their assistance with the
survey questions.
15 www.thebci.org
 Headline to go here 1.5% 1.2%
0.8%
0.6%

over a few lines.

3.1%
1.5%
2.5%
1.0%

0.8%
2.7%
0.8%

2.1% 0.8% 0.2%

0.2%

5.0% 2.7% 6.7%

10.5% 2.7%

638
6.8% 3.1%
21.0% 7.5% 2.7%
3.4%
3.4%
9.4% 3.7%
4.2%
4.6% 10.7%
3.9%
44.1%
8.1%
respondents 9.7%
52.9%
7.3%
4.2%

15.6%
6.0% 12.1%
6.5%
7.7%

16.2% 9.6%
8.2%
8.2% 10.6%
20.1%

73
10.7% 10.4%

Business Continuity Banking and finance

1-10
Europe Professional services
Risk Management
Information technology 11-20

countries Top management Public services, government and administration

Other
21-50
North America IT Disaster Recovery/IT Service Continuity
Manufacturing
51-100
Other Transport and logistics
Energy and utilities 101-250
Crisis management
Australia Education and training
Emergency Planning 251-500
Healthcare

20 Africa
Cyber/information security

Line of Business/Service Directorate

Retail and wholesale
Charity/Not for profit
Engineering and infrastructure
501-1,000

1,001-5,000
Health & Safety management Leisure and hospitality
5,001-10,000
Law enforcement and security
industries Latin America Internal Audit
Emergency services
10,001-50,000
Quality/Business Improvement Creative industries
Real estate and construction 50,001-100,000
Supply chain/logistics/procurement/purchasing
Middle East Science and pharmaceuticals
Security (physical) More than 100,000
Environment and agriculture
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