Business Services Business Continuation
New Employee Orientation
Objective
Familiarize new staff members with business continuation procedures and their
responsibilities in enacting those plans.
This document is intended to serve as a starting-point for conversations with new staff
regarding business continuation within Business Services. As a result of this
conversation, employees should understand:
 The difference between an emergency plan and a business continuation plan
 Where to find information on university and building emergency plans
 The department’s business continuation plan
 The employee’s responsibilities in enacting a business continuation plan
Emergency vs. Business Continuation Plans
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency:
“An emergency is any unplanned event that can cause deaths or significant
injuries to employees, customers or the public; or that can shut down your
business, disrupt operations, cause physical or environmental damage, or
threaten the facility's financial standing or public image.”
www.fema.gov
Emergency plans provide information on how to react appropriately to a situation.
Business continuation plans focus on planning how the business will respond to the
disruption caused by an emergency. This activity is separate from an emergency
response. The business continuation planning focuses on putting in place processes and
procedures to enable resumption of normal business operations.
Business Services Business Continuation
Business Services has adopted the following priorities to govern business continuation
activities:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Protect human life
Eliminate or minimize the risk of injury
Protect physical assets (including data)
Minimize losses
Resume normal operations as quickly as possible.
In order to support these priorities, each department has developed a business
continuation plan. Part of that planning process might have resulted in decisions to store
or back up data differently than in the past. Please be sure that you understand your
department’s plans.
The Business Services business continuation plan would be initiated by the Vice
President of Business Services and Assistant Treasurer (VPBS), through his staff. In the
event that the VPBS is not available, the decision will be made jointly by the Director of
Human Resources and the Comptroller. Each department’s plan defines how staff will be
contacted. Staff will receive information on reporting to work, hours, and locations from
their departmental contact.
Departmental Business Continuation
Discuss your department’s business continuation plan with your supervisor or
departmental contact. You should cover the following:
 Employee’s responsibilities in preparing for and implementing business
continuation plans
 Communications plan, including emergency contacts and how you will receive
information
My contact is: __________________________________________
 Know your exits and evacuation responsibilities (ex. Buddy system)
 Know your assembly location: _______________________________
 Understand the critical processes in your department
 Location of critical documents and emergency kits
Other Resources
The departmental business continuation plan sits on top of several other plans at the
university. University News Service handles all communications during a crisis. ITaP is
responsible for restoration of core computing services. Physical Facilities handles
emergency response services, such as fire, police, and safety.
Emergency Procedures Handbook
http://www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/pdf/safety_handbook.DOC
Campus Emergencies and Natural Disasters
http://www.purdue.edu/police/assist/emergencies.htm
Business Services Business Continuation
http://www.purdue.edu/business/ContinuationPlan/
Your Responsibilities
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Know your department’s plans and your role in those plans
Review Emergency Procedures Handbook
Know your exits and assembly location
Participate in drills and reviews of the business continuation plans