When news of the Southern California wildfires first broke, our team at Wayside felt an immediate responsibility to help. We’re a B2B enterprise SaaS company on a mission to make employee support frictionless. Our AI assistant automates HR and benefits inquiries in existing channels—whether that’s Slack, Microsoft Teams, or SMS—so employees can find the help they need without jumping through hoops or waiting for hours.
But what happens when there’s a crisis and employees need urgent information fast—like right now? That question led us to develop a brand-new feature we call “Crisis Mode.” In this blog post, we’ll walk you through what it is, why we built it, and how it can help companies better support their people when emergencies strike.
When the wildfires in Southern California erupted, many residents—and their employers—found themselves scrambling for information. Employees needed to know if they could access benefits that cover hotel stays or evacuation expenses. They were looking for immediate answers about local emergency services. Some wondered whether they could take time off if they needed to evacuate or care for family members.
In moments of crisis, nobody has time to search through an outdated intranet or wait hours (or even days) for HR to respond to their questions. People need life-saving details and instructions as quickly as possible.
As the requests started pouring in from our own network, we realized we could leverage our platform to help. Our AI assistant already delivers HR, IT, and benefits support in real time—so why not take that capability and tailor it specifically for disaster scenarios?
Crisis Mode is a new module within the Wayside system that’s designed to serve as an immediate lifeline for employees during emergencies like wildfires, hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters. It seamlessly integrates into the same channels employees already use—SMS, Slack, Teams, or even email—so they can access critical information right from their phones, without needing a laptop or Wi-Fi.
By providing a dedicated “Crisis Mode” in our platform, we’re aiming to reduce confusion and anxiety when employees are in urgent need of help.
When a crisis strikes, delays can be dangerous. Employees need instant, accurate answers about policies and resources. Because Wayside’s AI assistant is always on, there’s no lag time. It responds within seconds, freeing HR and leadership teams to focus on higher-level crisis management rather than repetitive inquiries.
Emergencies aren’t just about logistics. They’re about people’s lives, their families, and their well-being. Offering a clear, immediate response—along with resources for emotional support—shows your workforce that you care. A sense of connection and support can go a long way in keeping morale steady through tough times.
Nothing erodes trust like silence in a crisis. When employees know they can rely on your organization for timely information, they’re more likely to stay engaged and return to work feeling supported. “Crisis Mode” demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being, which ultimately strengthens your employer brand.
Here are a few ways we envision “Crisis Mode” making a difference:
The beauty of Wayside’s AI assistant is that it scales easily. Whether you have 1,000 employees or 20,000, our system can handle a high volume of simultaneous questions without breaking a sweat. This level of scalability is crucial during wide-reaching emergencies, where potentially every employee might need assistance at the same time.
We also work with your IT and security teams to ensure that data privacy and compliance standards are met throughout the process. Your employees can access the system safely, and administrators can manage it confidently.
We built “Crisis Mode” in response to the Southern California wildfires, but it’s not limited to natural disasters. Any crisis—health emergencies, severe weather, cyberattacks, or even sudden geopolitical events—can spark the same kind of urgent need for information.
If you’re an employer looking to protect and support your workforce during extreme emergencies, we’d be honored to help. Our goal is to equip you with the tools you need to keep your employees informed, safe, and focused on what matters most during challenging times.
Crises test the resilience of organizations—and the people behind them. By proactively offering answers and guidance through “Crisis Mode,” employers can step up to the plate with empathy and clarity. At Wayside, we’re proud to play our part in ensuring that no matter what life throws at us, employees have the support they need, exactly when they need it.
We hope “Crisis Mode” will be a stepping stone toward more compassionate and effective crisis management, not just for Southern California wildfires, but for any disaster situation that may arise. If you have any questions or want to explore how this solution fits into your organization’s emergency plan, reach out to us. We’re here to help.
Interested in learning more about “Crisis Mode” and the full Wayside platform? Book a demo with our team, and we’ll walk you through how it works, discuss your specific needs, and show you how you can integrate it seamlessly into your existing employee communication channels.
