Helen Luketic, CHRP
In these last few weeks, it’s clear that Vancouver and Whistler are getting ramped up for the Olympics. Put in perspective, the Olympics happen every four years. Instead of recreating the wheel when creating our workforce plans for February 2010, perhaps Vancouver could use some wise words of advice based on the experience from a similar Olympic host city.
The messages we’ve been hearing to date have been focussed on what we can expect at the workplace during the Olympics: flexible workforces, flexible work schedules, and the surely not so flexible commute. For example, you hear about employers asking employees to be flexible. However, we also heard an important caveat to this statement: be sure that as an employer, you’re “more like Santa, less like Scrooge”.* No one knows what things will truly be like during the Olympics.
From the point of view of the HR business person, a successful Olympics means that staff actually show up for work and remain productive. Success is ensuring that when a customer shows up at the door during the Olympics, they get served. What we don’t know is whether or not these customers will show up.
Let’s get some insight from our fellow HR practitioners in the fabulous city of Atlanta, Georgia, host of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Now this is truly a big city, with a population of 5.3 million. (In case you’re wondering, Metro Vancouver’s population is just over 2 million) According to Wikipedia, Atlanta is “considered to be a top business city and transportation hub” and “is the world headquarters of The Coca-Cola Company, AT&T Mobility, and Delta Air Lines. The surrounding area contains additional corporate headquarters, including Home Depot and UPS.”
Now that we have some context and we’ve established that the people of Atlanta have some authority and experience on planning for an Olympic game, here’s what a few of these HR pros said:
“We simply told everyone to "do what they could" to come to work. No penalties for being tardy. My advice is to form an employee committee, keep it simple and flexible and recognize that the reality will be different than the plan. And my advice to you - enjoy every event you can - it's a once in a lifetime adventure!”
- Nancy Vepraskas, Senior HR Executive
“If you will be hosting Paralympic events in the city I encourage you to work with employers to get employees to participate as volunteers as part of their social philanthropy. My volunteers were truly (positively) impacted by the Paralympians.
Most sports federations will likely require test events leading up to the "BIG ONE" that can be used as a gauge for what's to come.... Request a review of (event) schedules so that those employers impacted the greatest by athlete and spectator movement can prepare."
- Debra Kibbe, MS, PHR
Director, Physical Activity and Nutrition
ILSI Research Foundation
The common theme is to plan for the best, expect the unexpected and set some ground rules. It’s a once in a lifetime event so let’s have some fun with it. Check the daily event schedule to understand what the big events are so you know when the crowds will hit transit (e.g. opening ceremonies) and when your staff would rather be at the pub (e.g. Gold medal men’s hockey). Request that your staff be flexible but likewise be flexible with them. Be realistic - how many customers do you expect to be coming through your door?
Thanks to the SHRM-Atlanta chapter members and executive director Mary Lynn Miller who provided this valuable insight, based on their experience during the 1996 Olympic Summer Games.
*As heard from Clive Lunn, Business Continuity Manager, BC Hydro on October 14 at the BC Business Council and BC HRMA co-hosted event Preparing for 2010 Games.