Discussing Preparedness With Co-Workers as We Return to Work

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Especially now as many of us are returning to work after a pandemic shelter in place order, preparedness is on a lot of people’s minds. This could mean one of two things; your co-workers will be thinking about the topic and many wondering where to begin. More open to the idea now having experienced a pandemic and perhaps the realization that there could be a second wave, it could happen again, and that other disasters can also occur. Or they could be upset by those who prepare as many of us were accused of hoarding supplies at the beginning of the pandemic (a complete lack of understanding that we were prepared PRIOR and didn’t have to do a rush on toilet paper or most other daily items and those were the actions of the panicked unprepared) Who are upset by the very idea that a pandemic happened at all or who feel this experience wasn’t bad enough to warrant preparedness. Either way it will be a topic that will be discussed as people share their stories of isolation and of financial hardships from being out of work, and or the inconvenience of having local businesses they frequent on a regular basis closed.

So how do you respond to questions? It could be a scenario where you could help those less experienced get started on preparing. Or you could find yourself falsely labeled as a crazed right-wing extremist, or of the same ilk as those featured on shows like Doomsday Preppers. This is a personal OPSEC decision. You must consider the culture of the business you work for (or operate), who is asking the questions and how they are being asked.

You will need to be aware of the egos involved as well. Who might be angry that you and your family did not suffer the same lack of basics that they and their families did and decide that because you not only had the forethought but actually turned your forethought into an advantage action makes you a rival of sorts? Who might feel that somehow that is showing them up and set out to bring you down? Or use this knowledge to advocate that you are the one who would best be able to survive a job loss and set out to show that the next time layoffs roll around? Women in particular can voice that this has been an issue in the past when it was assumed that their male counterparts needed the work more than they did because they were the assumed household bread winners, and they had family to support while working women were not deemed to be “serious” workers. However, wouldn’t you also be wise in recognizing who could really benefit from your advice in preparing for the future and could become allies in a future scenario?

What preps are safe to discuss with anyone even someone who is willing to learn? I personally don’t speak of my own personal weapons. It is a hot topic politically and frankly I feel that preparedness and politics don’t mix.  Also, you don’t know who might say something as simple “I can’t believe Storm owns a gun” and this is overheard by someone willing to break into Storm’s home in hopes of finding said gun. Same goes for gas masks and other forms of self-defense. Giving hints of how to protect yourself may be ok but giving details on how you are personally going to do so could put you and your family at risk from someone who may want to harm you or governmental confiscation if the scenario should go to that extreme. These particular items can also be seen as aggressive tools which could lead others to fear your motives for having them and that’s not good in any business situation.

This warning also goes for discussing how much or how many preps you have. Saying “Everyone should have a couple of months’ worth of supplies and expenses on hand in case of an emergency” isn’t necessarily interpreted to “I have 6 months of food stashed away and a couple of hundred in cash around the house”. How you word your advice can be the key to helping someone else and leaving yourself open to having everyone in need on your doorstep the next time the supply chain is disrupted.

Help where you can and stay as gray as possible to insure you stay as safe as possible!

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