Some businesses in and around Olympic venues like BC Place Stadium have made changes to help their employees work around the disruption the Games will bring. (CBC)

Vancouver's Downtown Business Improvement Association is now tracking how companies plan to carry on with work during the Winter Olympics, which begin in 35 days.

Games organizers put out a plea to business owners a year ago to adjust their staffing hours, encourage employee vacations, or have them work from home, all in an effort to cut down traffic congestion around Olympic venues.

'We want them to have a memorable time with the Games and at the same time get to work'—Stantec's Liz Johnston

Most businesses are just now starting to finalize their plans, according to the association.

"It really depends on each case as it relates to the employees and the nature of the business," association president Charles Gauthier told CBC News.

The more complex the business, the more refined the solutions have to be and the more forethought will be needed, Gauthier said.

Many smaller businesses are opting to play it by ear, waiting to see how long it will take get around before changing their work routines, he said.

Other larger firms have more strategic plans in place, which include early hours of operation, carpooling and investing in technology so people can work from home.

Free breakfasts

Stantec, a 400-person design firm, believed it has made changes that will make coping with the disruption created by the Games easier for its employees.

"We've changed our operating hours to adjust them so they're during the lightest times for commuting between 6:30 [a.m.] and 2:30 [p.m.]," said marketing director Liz Johnston.

The company also has plans for free in-house breakfasts for the staff, so they won't have to compete with a flood of Olympic visitors in local food outlets.

Stantec began its Olympic preparations in June 2009, keeping employees in the loop with regular communiqués that included tips on how to telecommute, take transit and information on road closures and Games security.

"We want to make it fun. We want them to have a memorable time with the Games and at the same time get to work and be as efficient as possible," said Johnston.