A quarter of small businesses did take steps to combat the weather conditions and ensure business as usual though, by enabling more staff to work from home and 10% held more online meetings.
However, the research does suggest however some small businesses could have done more to prepare for the unexpected, as only 42% said they have a business continuity plan in place.
The impact on small businesses has been widespread, with businesses across the UK reporting problems. A quarter of small businesses decision makers say some staff were late into work, while 26% reported that some staff couldn't make it into the workplace at all. In addition, 21% found that key suppliers and contacts were not available and 26% had to cancel or postpone business meetings.
Only 42% said they have a business continuity plan in place
"The weather in the first week of 2010 has had a catastrophic effect on UK business, with the FSB estimating the cost to the UK economy to be at least £600m a day. Many businesses thought they were sufficiently prepared to handle the snow, but the sheer scale of the disruption and a lack of planning from the government has taken its toll," said Andrew Millard, Director of eCommerce, EMEA for Citrix Online's GoToMyPC.
Top five tips for handling the unexpected:
1. Communicate clearly in advance with your workers so that they know what they need to do if they can't get into the office.
2. Equip employees with remote access and Web conferencing technology. This will help them to remain productive even if they can't get into the office.
3. Communicate with your customers - phone redirects and remote access software will allow you to work productively away from the office. But if clients or customers are likely to be affected, let them know as early as possible and keep communication channels open.
4. Consider alternatives. Travel to the office or to client meetings may be impossible, but instead of cancelling, conduct the meetings online instead.
5. Put in place a business continuity leader. If the unexpected happens, it's wise to have one person in your organisation responsible for coordinating efforts and informing all staff of the potential impacts and company policies.
