Recent catastrophic events, ranging from natural disasters to terrorist attacks, have clearly demonstrated that the homes, businesses, and communities Americans have invested in over many years can be wiped out in a matter of hours. While there is little you can do to prevent a disaster from striking, there are steps you can take to protect your business from ruin should you be faced with an emergency.

Retaining quality employees sometimes requires using fresh, new strategies. One option is offering employees flexibility with their work schedules.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a growing concern for many companies. Whether you’re a business owner or building owner, you should take potential IAQ problems seriously. If left uncorrected, air quality problems could affect your workers, resulting in lost productivity, increased absenteeism, and decreased morale. In addition, you should be aware that if a serious problem arises, employees might turn to litigation.

Fight ID Theft

Individuals are not the only ones affected by identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission provides a business site dedicated to helping companies fight back against identity theft, which can cause irreparable damage to a business that loses customer data. At www.ftc.gov, business owners can find a range of educational tools to help with the following: assisting victims, handling data breaches, and safeguarding important business and customer information.

Employee fatigue appears to be a growing problem for many companies. Longer work weeks—which are now routine and, perhaps, even expected—can put extra pressure on already stressed workers. To add to the strain, technological advances that make employees constantly accessible can prevent workers from escaping their jobs at night and on weekends. Also, the effects of restructurings, mergers, and downsizing sometimes leave employees carrying heavier workloads while they fear losing their jobs. Workers may feel like hamsters scrambling on exercise wheels that never stop.