The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita serves as a graphic reminder
for businesses that they need to revisit their emergency preparedness
plans and consider how they might respond in the event of an emergency. An
employer that fails to take reasonable steps to prepare for and respond to
emergencies will not only suffer greater immediate physical and financial
impact from the event but also may be liable for losses incurred by
employees, surviving relatives and investors. In the event of a natural
disaster or other emergency, numerous employment laws may be implicated.
This article will touch upon a few of those laws and provide some advice
to employers in terms of how they can prepare for such disasters.
