Cyclone Alfred poses ‘tricky situations’ for employers

With Tropical Cyclone Alfred set to hit Queensland and NSW, employers must start preparing for work stoppages and how they may have to handle employee standdowns.

HR Leader recently spoke to Adele Garnett, special counsel for workplace and employment at HopgoodGanmin, about the implications that could arise for employers who may have to suspend work due to the incoming cyclone.

Garnett touched on the responsibilities and requirements of employers who may opt to stand down employees when work comes to a halt.

“If employers are wanting to stand down employees without pay, under the Fair Work Act 2009, they must be sure that (1) the employees cannot be usefully employed and (2) that is due to a stoppage of work for which the employer can’t be held responsible,” Garnett said.

“Not all workplaces will be forced to stop, it will depend on the business, the risks to health and safety and other relevant circumstances.”

“Even if there are disruptions to the business, employers still need to consider if there is any work the employee/s can do – for example, there will definitely be circumstances where an employee can work from home (unless the power goes out!).”

Garnett mentioned that the forecast cyclone poses “tricky situations” for both employees and employers – with some employers opting to allow their workers to access their leave entitlements, considering the situation is set to be chaotic.

“Many employers are using their discretion to allow employees to access annual or long service leave. It is also within an employer’s discretion to allow employees to access carer’s leave if they have emergency caring responsibilities (e.g. due to school closures),” Garnett said.

“However, employees do not have a right under the Fair Work Act to access these leave types – it is up to the employer’s discretion.”

“Many people are feeling stressed and anxious about what is coming, so special care needs to be taken in communicating this to employees, and making sure they are aware of support that might be available (including any employee assistance program or the like).”

In terms of employers protecting their businesses from potential damages, Terrence Daniel, general manager at PSS Distributors, listed a step-by-step for how employers can best prepare.

“Extreme weather events are unavoidable in Australia, but preparation can reduce downtime, damage and financial loss,” Daniel said.

“If your business operates in a cyclone-prone area, taking the right steps now ensures that it remains resilient, protecting infrastructure, employees and critical operations.”

Daniel shared nine critical steps businesses should take before the cyclone strikes:

1. Secure outdoor assets: “Loose signage, outdoor furniture and equipment can become dangerous projectiles in strong winds. Secure them properly or store them indoors.”

2. Clear gutters and drains: “Blocked gutters and drainage systems can lead to water damage and flooding. Ensure all downpipes, stormwater drains and roof gutters are clear to allow proper water flow.”

3. Assess and reinforce building structures: “Inspect roofs, windows and roller doors for vulnerabilities. Reinforce weak points to prevent structural damage in high winds.”

4. Review your emergency response plan: “Ensure all employees are aware of safety protocols, evacuation procedures and emergency contacts. Assign key staff members to oversee storm preparations.”

5. Back up essential data: “Protect important business records, customer data and financial information by ensuring backups are stored securely, preferably in the cloud or off-site.”

6. Protect critical infrastructure with UPS backup systems: “Power outages are common in extreme weather. Ensure essential business systems, such as security, IT servers, refrigeration and communication networks, are supported by a UPS backup battery to keep operations running.”

7. Review insurance coverage: “Confirm that your insurance policies cover storm-related damage and business interruptions.”

8. Ensure automated doors have emergency power: “Shopping centres, fire stations, hospitals, schools and industrial facilities rely on automated and roller garage doors. For large-scale facilities like these, ensure you have a specialised backup battery system in place that is designed for garage doors in order to keep critical systems running during outages.”

9. Stay informed: “Monitor real-time weather updates and emergency warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and local authorities. Keep communication lines open with employees and stakeholders.”

“While the full impact of Cyclone Alfred remains uncertain, taking proactive measures now will help businesses reduce disruptions and recover more quickly once the danger has passed,” Daniel said.

Kace O'Neill

Kace O'Neill is a Graduate Journalist for HR Leader. Kace studied Media Communications and Maori studies at the University of Otago, he has a passion for sports and storytelling.