Fire drills are necessary. It helps employees to prepare for any future emergencies. However, employees know that it is only a test. So, there is no stress. They take their time, move around chatting and march slowly to an assembly area.
Putting policies aside, to make these drills closer to reality, how about we do not announce that it is just a fire drill? How about if employees see or smell smoke? It may be better preparation for a real emergency.
Zooming out, fire is one of many emergencies. Business and life have many uncertainties. We may end up in emergencies due to various reasons. In business, it could be a client canceling a significant project, cash flow issue, a major system outage, or a cyber attack. In life, it can be health, accidents, or losing loved ones.
Perhaps there is value in simulating drills for different emergencies and making them close to real!
