Crisis Planning Research Articles

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy practice and on the provision of pharmaceutical care: A cross-sectional study among community pharmacists.

Community pharmacists played an essential role in the control and management of the COVID-19 pandemic; both pharmaceutical care and community pharmacists were affected, given that, patients' needs and demands increased due to the fear of lockdowns and shortage of medication throughout the pandemic. This study was based in Lebanon and aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) pharmacists, including infection rates, pay, and working hours, and (2) pharmacy practice, including medicine and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages. A cross-sectional study involving 120 community pharmacists was carried out between August and November 2021. Data were collected using an online survey filled out by pharmacists working in Lebanon. Most participants (71.7%) reported an increase in their income during the pandemic, and 60% reduced their working hours. A significant association was noted between being previously infected and marital status, level of education, work position, and salary of the participants. Most participants (95.8%) encountered a shortage of medications during the pandemic leading to high home storage of medication, searching for other sources of medicines, and decreased patient/pharmacist interactions. The COVID-19 pandemic imposed new challenges on pharmacists and the provision of pharmaceutical care. It affected pharmacists' daily routines, putting them at risk of infection with limited availability of medicines and PPE. This study suggests that establishing effective crisis management plans to increase community pharmacists' resilience during similar outbreaks.

Implementation of Crisis Management Phases in Intensive Care Units in the Crisis Situation Resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Background The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic was at the heart of a hospital. At that time, nurses working in the ICU were fearing for their lives, with insufficient equipment and disorganisation resulting from the lack of sound knowledge on dealing with and preventing the transmission of the virus. The ward nurses experienced crisis management, without proper knowledge of the subject. Aim The purpose of this study is to analyse the management conditions in the ICU in Poland, in a crisis situation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The quantitative research was carried out in Poland, on a group of nurses from the ICU, using a questionnaire distributed online. Results The results of the assessment of ICU’s preparedness in the event of a crisis, including the prevention, preparation, response and recovery phases, were presented. forty respondents took part in the study. Taking into account the average number of responses in the survey, they rated the Response phase as the highest one (30/40), followed by the Prevention phase (28/40) and the Preparation phase (26/40), and the Recovery phase as the lower one (11/40). Conclusions The crisis situation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has weakened the unprepared Health Care System, and therefore conclusions must be drawn from that experience. An important element of maintaining the efficiency of the ICU during a pandemic is sound knowledge, risk assessment and nurse education. At such a time it is equally important to prepare a crisis management plan and to assess it while it is being implemented, as well as to ensure the safety of the patients and ICU nurses.

КРИЗА ЯК КАТАЛІЗАТОР РОЗВИТКУ БІЗНЕС-ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ

The article provides an in-depth analysis of the concept of "crisis" in a business context and summarises approaches to defining this concept. Different types of crises are categorised based on their origin and diverse manifestations. "Crisis" is regarded as a phenomenon that can present opportunities and challenges for generating new strategies and adaptations that will help a business organisation to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. Crisis phenomena can contribute to business growth, but only if businesses have learned to adapt to market changes and find new sources of finance. During an economic crisis, business organisations can expand and develop by using new technologies, growing e-commerce, attracting new customers, establishing cooperation and partnership relationships, etc. This research article presents a systematic approach to the available modern crisis management tools and explores strategies for business development during crisis times. A business's response and recovery from a crisis can be greatly facilitated by thorough planning and preparation for potential crisis situations. Crisis management involves the establishment of monitoring systems for the early detection of potential crisis situations. This enables the organisation to take rapid action before the situation escalates. Early detection can significantly reduce the impact and severity of a crisis. Effective crisis management begins with proactive planning. Organisations develop comprehensive crisis management plans that outline potential risks, scenarios and strategies for managing different types of crises. The study showed that it is important to maintain the trust of both customers and employees, look for new opportunities for growth, and act quickly and decisively in difficult circumstances. Business leaders and managers need to be prepared for unforeseen changes, act quickly when the market changes and constantly look for new opportunities for growth in order to deal effectively with crisis situations.

Методичні аспекти формування антикризової стратегії металургійних підприємств

The article examines the current state and trends in the development of the metallurgical industry of Ukraine during the wartime. The structure of import-export operations of the metallurgical industry is studied. The behavior of key countries – players in the world market of metallurgical products is analyzed. The theoretical basis of the study was the scientific developments of Ukrainian and foreign scientists, whose works allowed to systematize and propose the structure of procedures, approaches, mechanisms, and an algorithm for developing an anti-crisis strategy for metallurgical enterprises. By means of systematization, the authors propose a number of stages in the development of an anti-crisis strategy, namely: analysis of internal factors; analysis of external factors; formation of an anti-crisis strategy; implementation and control. The factors for the formation of the anti-crisis strategy are determined, which include six groups, while each of the groups is divided into additional elements. Taking into account these factors ensures the adaptability of the enterprise to modern external and internal challenges and ensures its sustainable growth. It is proposed to use the mechanism for developing an anti-crisis strategy, which consists of eight blocks, reflecting the directions of proactive activity to study and overcome crisis phenomena that arise both inside and outside the enterprise. The aspects of developing an anti-crisis strategy for metallurgical enterprises have been systematized and updated, forming the basis of an adaptive mechanism, thanks to which the enterprise will be able to maintain a positive performance of its main activity and respond in a timely manner to changes and challenges, and most importantly – to take preventive measures to avoid such circumstances and build its own activities on the principle of prevention. This study will be useful for theorists and practitioners of crisis planning, management and control, development of strategies and behavior of enterprises in a changing environment.

Ensuring the Stability of Cyber Defense of the State in the Conditions of Armed Conflict

The article is devoted to the problem of sustainability of cyber defense of national security in the context of modern armed conflicts. The work examines key aspects that pose a threat to the state's cyber security, including cyber attacks, cyber espionage and cyber sabotage. The article analyzes the need for the development of cyber infrastructure, personnel training and a crisis plan for recovery after a cyber attack. It also examines the role of government institutions in ensuring cyber security, including regulatory development and cooperation with the private sector and academic institutions. In addition, the article highlights the international aspect of cyber defense resilience and the importance of cooperation between states and compliance with international norms and rules in cyberspace. The work ends with conclusions about the importance of joint efforts of national and international public structures to ensure sustainable cyber security in the conditions of armed conflicts.

Advance statements in mental healthcare: time to close the evidence to practice gap.

This article discusses advance statements in mental health care, which allow individuals with mental disorders to express their preferences for treatment during mental health crises. Despite the evidence supporting their effectiveness, their implementation in clinical practice remains limited. This article explores variations among advance statements, such as psychiatric advance directives (PADs), joint crisis plans (JCPs) and self-binding directives (SBDs), highlighting their content, development process and legal status. We outline the benefits of advance statements, including empowerment, early intervention, improved therapeutic relationships and reduced compulsory admissions. We then draw attention to the challenges that may contribute to their lack of implementation, including legal complexities, communication issues, cultural factors, potential inequities, healthcare provider knowledge, changing preferences, resource constraints, crisis responses, data privacy, family involvement, and long-term evaluation. In conclusion, advance statements offer significant benefits but require addressing these critical aspects to ensure ethical and effective use. Bridging the evidence-to-practice gap is essential, with a focus on implementation science. Integrating these tools into routine clinical practice can significantly benefit individuals with severe mental disorders and mental health systems.

Comparison of the Protection of Critical Healthcare Infrastructures in Germany and Hungary

In 2008, the European Union regulated the basics of the protection of critical infrastructures in a directive. The Member States therefore had to ensure that – in addition to the freedom of the method and means of implementation – the provisions of the directive were transposed into their national legal order. Accordingly, some Member States may define different detailed rules. The detailed rules related to the protection of critical infrastructures (e.g. the designation thresholds) are not public in several Member States, but in Germany and Hungary they have been recorded at the legislative level. In my study, I compare the rules related to the protection of critical healthcare infrastructures, including inpatient care institutions, primarily based on legal sources and the experiences of my study tour in Germany, from the selection criteria system to crisis planning. The good practices resulting from the differences and similarities to be discovered can help to revise and standardise the rules and practices related to the protection of critical health infrastructures.

Effectiveness of a recovery workshop implemented in community mental health services in Catalonia (Spain): study protocol for a non-randomized controlled trial

BackgroundMany countries today are undergoing a paradigm shift in mental health policies towards a recovery-oriented and rights-based approach. From this perspective, self-determination and self-management are fundamental factors for recovery. Despite this shift, there is still a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of training programmes aimed at promoting self-determination and self-management in recovery processes implemented in southern European or Spanish-speaking countries. The aim of this paper is to present a study protocol that evaluates the effectiveness of a 12-session recovery workshop implemented in community mental health services in Catalonia (Spain).Methods/designThis is a 12-week follow-up multi-centre non-randomized controlled trial design. At least 160 users will be recruited from 13 Community Rehabilitation Services (CRS) in Catalonia. Eligible participants are adult (≥ 18 years old) users of a CRS, who sign a written consent to participate. The experimental group participates in a recovery workshop, in which people learn to develop and implement their own plan of personal recovery, which includes a Wellness Toolbox, a Maintenance Toolkit, a Personal Growth Plan, a Mirror of Relapses, a Crisis Plan, and a Learning Agenda. The control group participates in the usual activities of the CRS. Data is collected using a questionnaire of sociodemographic characteristics, personal recovery, empowerment, hope and perceived social support. The users’ measurements are taken at the baseline and one week after the end of the workshop. The primary outcome measures include the Self-Identified Stage of Recovery and the Maryland Assessment of Recovery in Serious Mental Illness Scale (short version). The secondary outcome measures include the Netherlands Empowerment List, Dispositional Hope Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Descriptive statistics for characterizing the sample size will be performed. Multivariate analyses for repeated measures designs will be used to evaluate the primary and secondary outcomes. Between-group and within-subject comparisons will be conducted.DiscussionThe results of the study will provide information on the usefulness of recovery workshops in a Mediterranean cultural context. Additionally, if this workshop is effective, it will be proposed for inclusion within the portfolio of community mental health services in Catalonia.Trial RegistrationISRCTN11695542 (Registration date: 5 July 2022).

კოვიდ-19-ის პანდემიის გავლენა საქართველოს ტურიზმსა და მის მთავარ სეგმენტზე – სასტუმრო ინდუსტრიაზე

The Covid-19 pandemic, along with human casualties, caused significant damage to many sectors of the economy, primarily, tourism and its main segment – the hotel industry. Before the pandemic, in 2019, in the period of the country's independence, Georgia's tourism reached the highest number. The number of tourist visits reached 5,1 million. Revenues from tourism were 8,4% of GDP, and the number of people working in the industry was 11,6% of the total number of employees in the country. At the end of the first year of the pandemic, international tourist visits to Georgia decreased by 78,5% (in 2020) and 66% of hotels and catering facilities in Georgia stopped their activities. During the epidemic period by the government's decision lots of hotels were used as quarantine spaces and Covid-rooms. In order to overcome the crisis, targeted measures were developed – financial benefits, assistance and special activities were provided for the subjects of the tourism industry, but the crisis management plan was deficient and the need for changes after the pandemic was not considered in it. Pandemic has exacerbated the outflow of personnel and redeployment to other fields. It is expected that the demand for medical-refreshing, as well as ecological adventure travel tours will increase among the other types of tourism in the post-pandemic period, consequently, appropriate accommodation should be provided for the guests.

Okullarda Kriz Yönetiminin İletişim Açısından Değerlendirilmesi

Crises occur at unexpected times and can have negative effects on the organization. All institutions make various plans in order to survive the crisis periods in the most undamaged way. However, it is not possible to say that crisis management planning in schools is very effective compared to other institutions. Crises in Turkey are mostly overcome impromptu and schools do not feel the need to work more on this issue. However, a crisis prepared in advance will enable the institution to come out of the crisis with the least damage in terms of both material and moral losses and the reputation of the school. Especially in such situations, it is very important for the schools where the students who need guidance the most to inform their staff and teachers about crisis management and to be prepared for the crisis. The purpose of this research is to examine the importance of crisis management and communication in schools.

Behandlungsvereinbarungen in der Psychiatrie – reale Praxis in einem Verbund psychiatrischer Kliniken

Joint crisis plans (JCPs) are offered in many psychiatric hospitals, but patients only rarely make use of them. To assess the rates of JCPs among inpatients of mental health hospitals and to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients who make use of aJCP. We carried out aretrospective analysis of routine data from the statistical database/basis documentation of the LVR hospital association, which consists of nine psychiatric hospitals. The basis documentation is consistent in the nine hospitals. All admissions between 2016 and 2020 were considered. We recorded the existence of aJCP, age, gender and main diagnosis at release, as well as previous hospital stays, detention under the Mental Health Act of the Federal State of NRW and experiences with compulsory measures (seclusion/restraint) in the previous 24months before index admission. Out of atotal of 117,662 inpatients 467 (0.4%) had completed aJCP. Patients with JCP were more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or emotionally unstable personality disorder. Patients with aJCP had more previous inpatient stays and they had more frequently experienced detentions and compulsory measures. However, 50% of the patients with aJCP had other diagnoses and the vast majority of them had experienced no detention or compulsory measure in the 24months preceding the first documentation of aJCP. Overall, the use of JCPs is limited. The targeted group of patients with severe mental illness and previous experience with involuntary placements and compulsory measures make use of the offer of aJCP but so do other patients as well. Additional qualitative analyses are required in order to analyze the content and objectives of JCPs in more detail.

The Reality of Planning for Crisis Management Facing Education Departments during Covid-19 in Kuwait from Teachers’ Point of View

Objectives: the current study aims to identify the reality of planning for crisis management facing education departments during the COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Kuwait from the teachers' point of view.
 Methods: to achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive and analytical approach was used, where the questionnaire was used as a tool to collect data that was distributed to a sample consisted of 150 male and female teachers in government secondary schools affiliated to the Ministry of Education in the State of Kuwait.
 The results: the results showed that the mean of crisis management planning in public schools in the State of Kuwait from the teachers’ point of view was of a high degree. The results also showed that there are statistically significant differences between the means of the study sample responses to the study tool due to the gender variable in favor of the females, and to the academic qualification variable in favor of PhD holders.
 Conclusions: the current study concluded that the reality of crisis management planning in public schools in the State of Kuwait from the teachers’ point of view was high, the study also recommended emphasizing the crisis management planning process, given its importance in avoiding crises and confronting emerging problems, and organizing awareness and educational programs on crisis management planning in the educational departments in the State of Kuwait.

Improving awareness of the HCR-20 and risk assessment process.

In 2011 Mrs A assaulted two people, one who died. In the hours prior to the attack she made multiple attempts to gain help including attending accident and emergency, contact with an inpatient service and the police. Subsequent investigation highlighted that her risk was not well documented or understood. This quality improvement project aimed to improve knowledge and awareness of HCR-20 risk assessments amongst mental health professionals. The Quality Improvement approach was taken and various initiatives were introduced to improve knowledge of the location and purpose of the HCR-20 and to ensure that these risk assessments were regularly updated. The results indicated that knowledge relating to the HCR-20 significantly improved amongst staff and breaches of deadlines for updating these risk assessments dramatically declined after the induction of the interventions. Including the 'risk formulation' and 'scenarios' from the HCR-20 in clients' crisis plans, introducing training relating to the HCR-20, and including discussions relating to the HCR-20 at the beginning of CPA meetings resulted in improved MDT awareness and knowledge of the HCR-20. A broader understanding and awareness of risk factors enabled the service to move towards a culture of risk being everyone's business.

Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Service Sector in Lithuania

Abstract Research purpose. This study aims to assess the impact of selected economic indicators (independent variables) on the turnover of food and beverage service companies in Lithuania. Design / Methodology / Approach. In order to achieve the intended goal of the study, an analysis of scientific articles was performed, with the primary aim of finding out the consequences of the COVID - 19 pandemic on the Lithuanian economy and selecting five independent variables that could affect the turnover of food and beverage companies. After analysing the literature, five independent variables were highlighted: the number of tourists accommodated, the statistics of Vilnius Airport flights, the number of employees hired, the unemployment rate and inflation. Findings. The correlation and regression analysis results show that the turnover of catering and beverage enterprises and the number of accommodated tourists are strongly correlated (r---gt--- 0.90). Meanwhile, the linear correlation between the number of Vilnius Airport flights and the number of hired employees with the research variable is average (0.60 ---lt---r ---lt---0.70). However, the linear correlation of macroeconomic factors such as unemployment and inflation with the turnover of food and beverage enterprises is statistically insignificant. Originality / Value / Practical implications. The originality of this article is that it studies the valuable topic of the COVID-19 crisis in service sectors, which substantially impacted Lithuania’s economy and adversely affected the economic performance of the region in general. The results of this research will contribute to future monitoring and crisis planning in particular sectors.

Telemedicine Interventions as an Attempt to Improve the Mental Health of Populations during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Narrative Review.

Published reports indicate the need for psychological interventions and the integration of psychiatric care into crisis management plans in people with mental health issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It seems crucial to identify the root causes of the health-social-economic crisis and identify potential opportunities for widely implemented psychological assistance. This narrative literature review aims to identify the types of interventions deployed as telemedicine-based mental health support and their effectiveness. The PubMed and Web of Science electronic databases were searched. From a total of 48 articles, 46 were analysed after removing duplicates. From these, thirty-seven records were excluded according to the inclusion criteria and nine (eight RCT and one cross-over) were assessed as full texts. The included publications were randomised clinical trials or cross-over studies focused on remote mental support interventions. In all studies, participants represented both sexes and had an average age range of 6-64. Studies included participants from seven countries and the overall number of participants in the included studies was 687. The content of these intervention programmes includes both established psychotherapeutic programmes, as well as new interventions. Remote support was implemented through three approaches: phone/video calls, mobile applications, and internet-based programs. The results of the included studies indicate a higher or equal efficacy of telemedicine interventions compared to traditional forms. The review also revealed a relatively wide range of targeted research groups: from children with social anxiety through to their caregivers; adolescents with neurological disorders; and from college students to adults with psychiatric or orthopaedic disorders. Analysis of the included papers found that telemedicine interventions show promising results as an attempt to improve population mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adverse impact of lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic on micro-small and medium enterprises (Indian handicraft sector): A study on highlighted exit strategies and important determinants

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the global economy. For small- and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the handicraft sectors, it was exceptionally difficult to maintain operations during a global crisis. Without crisis management plans in place, business owners run the risk of having their operations abruptly terminated. Therefore, the researchers sought to comprehend and study the factors that led to the shutdown and departure strategies of microenterprises (in the handicraft sector) during the pandemic. To conduct this study, a descriptive research design was used, and registered Indian micro-businesses in the Cavite region were specifically chosen. According to the study's findings, the majority of microenterprises were sole proprietorships with a capitalization of less than INR 600,000.00 (Asian Development Bank in The COVID-19 impact on Philippine businesses: key findings from the enterprise survey.http://dx.doi.org/10.22617/SPR200214-2, 2020) and had been in business for three to six years. As a result, the respondents' most typical issues are Retooling and training of pandemic-sensitive enterprise strategies for micro-entrepreneurs, particularly in the handicraft sector, as well as research into the negative effects of lockdown on MSME, which are all examples of crisis-sensitive interventions among small industries (handicraft sector) entrepreneurs.

Looking into the Laboratory Staffing Issues that Affected Ambulatory Care Clinical Laboratory Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Our New York City Municipal Public Health System-based multisite ambulatory and school-based Gotham Health clinics offer waived point-of-care tests and provider-performed microscopy to the local communities. Our Gotham Health laboratory service conducts system-wide centralized implementation, monitoring, and oversight of the POCT operations. Laboratory staffing has always been an issue for us as there is a decades-long shortage of laboratory staff, primarily licensed medical technologists and technicians, in New York, like many other states. Our clinical laboratory operations team struggled to hire qualified people even before the COVID-19 pandemic onset. It has faced more significant challenges with the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic cases in New York City and across the country since mid-March 2020. As staffing continues to be a struggle, it directly affected the POCT performances and a system-wide reduction in the test numbers during the pandemic. We investigated to identify the factors that made staffing more challenging. The impact on our POCT started after laboratory staff relocated to the acute care hospital laboratories to provide testing support during the pandemic's peak. That caused significant delays or complete cessation of POCT operations in the clinics due to a lack of oversight support. We also experienced the risk of more vacated positions where staff already feel overworked, overwhelmed, and emotionally drained, causing professional burnout. The significant challenges identified are noncompliance with vaccine mandates resulting in job dismissal and voluntary resignations in exchange for higher-paying laboratories. Finally, the other challenges identified were frequent sick calls due to mental fatigue, retirement of seasoned staff, and inability to attract qualified technologists to meet the demands of increasing test-ordering patterns. Determining the factors that culminated in the staffing issues becoming more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic in our ambulatory care clinic laboratory operations will help us in future crisis planning and mitigation.

The double burden of COVID-19 and Israeli military rule on persons with disabilities in the West Bank of the occupied Palestinian territory.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has enormous negative effects on people’s lives. People with disabilities (PWDs) who have been made vulnerable and who tend to face significant barriers in accessing public services are likely to be affected even more. This study aims to shed light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PWDs with special attention to their ability to access public services in the West Bank region of the occupied Palestinian territory.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted between March 2021 and October 2021. The study was divided into two phases. The first phase consisted of interviews with people with different disabilities, while the second phase targeted policymakers and stakeholders in discussion of the results of the first phase. A total of 16 interviews with people with different types of disabilities (7 males, 9 females) were conducted via telephone. For the second phase, a total of 6 interviews were conducted with stakeholders most responsible for addressing the issue of disability and the needs of PWDs in the West Bank. Analytical memos were prepared for all interviews. Main themes and subthemes were identified by reading and re-reading memos and transcripts until themes and subthemes emerged.ResultsAll participants agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected all aspects of life for all groups of people, including PWDs. The effects of the pandemic exacerbated the overall living conditions and access to basic services for PWDs. The results show that access to public transportation, public services, and to health services was all interrupted during the pandemic. This was compounded by deterioration of the financial situation for PWDs which further worsened their access. The stakeholders’ interviews confirmed and explained the findings as mainly due to lack of prioritization of PWD’s rights and needs.ConclusionThe study emphasized that most of the reported barriers to accessing essential services were intensified during the pandemic. Furthermore, the results show that PWDs and their needs are not considered a priority by the Palestinian Authority, exacerbated by the Israeli occupation. Our findings underline the importance of including PWDs in any future crisis planning.

Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residence: sustaining business while housing COVID-19 patients

Learning outcomes This case study aims to yield the following learning outcomes: understand the key performance indicators of successful human resource management (HRM) in the hospitality and tourism sector, especially during pandemics; identify the various concepts and strategies of HRM and recruitment over a short period; conceptualize the types of HRM practices such as safety and health, recruitment and promotion and rewards when facing pandemic conditions as well as the handling of hotel staff in strained times; evaluate the crisis management solutions used by human resources to lower the employee turnover rate; and develop a crisis management plan from a human resource standpoint in a pandemic situation. Case overview/synopsis A five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residence (BAQHotel) opened in October 2016. In April 2020, the hotel began accepting patients with COVID-19 in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi’s Healthcare Company (SEHA), as a support to the UAE Government, through Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCTAD), to meet the local needs and sustain business during these unforeseen circumstances, which heavily impacted the whole World. Samer Majari, the Human Resource Director of BAQ hotel was responsible for recruiting and supervising delegates, while ensuring the comfort of hotel staff, arranging for their transportation, catering, safety and well-being. To combat the high staff turnover, including COVID-19-positive staff, Majari reviewed the existing staff model; divided the staff into two groups for providing services to both sides of the hotel; arranged for separate accommodations, food and transportation; and retained the existing resources and recruited new workers. This study aims to provide management solutions that concern hiring of staff from the existing UAE market and highlights ways of creating a lower staff turnover rate through incentives and compensations, while also managing staff by motivating them and also safeguarding them against COVID-19. Complexity academic level This case study intends to provide a context for creative solutions to human resource challenges facing organizations during a pandemic. It also involves swift responses to crises faced by HR managers and the immediate solutions required. Therefore, this case study can be used in undergraduate level courses for students pursuing a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in HRM, hospitality management, crisis management or international business studies. Moreover, this case study can be used for corporate training and to help hospitality industry staff, mid-level human resource managers and organizational development practitioners to better understand crisis management in their hotels. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 6: Human Resource Management

The impact of COVID-19 on food rescue organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand and future crisis management

PurposeThe study analyses the resilience of food rescue organisations’ operating as “essential services” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020) in Aotearoa New Zealand. It explores the impact of COVID-19 on the organisations’ operation, preparedness, and potential positive impacts.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with 19 out of 23 active food rescue organisations across the country. Interview participants included CEOs, founders, managers, and coordinators.FindingsThe study identifies six impact areas experienced by food rescue organisations during COVID-19, policy and preparedness, funding, operation - logistics and personnel, supply continuity, food security and sector collaboration. Despite these impacts, the organisations showcased admirable resilience through innovation, adaptability, and collaborative practices, enabling the continuation of their services during the crisis.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a three-stage crisis management framework to guide the development and implementation of a crisis management plan to improve the resilience and preparedness of food rescue organisations’ response to future crises. The framework is flexible and adaptable to each food rescue organisation’s unique operation and capacity.Originality/valueThis paper offers a retrospective analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 on 83% of food rescue organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is the first paper to study the impact of COVID-19 on food rescue organisations.