| How would your business operate if half
| |
| | fill in, how would the business run? It
|
| your work force were out sick? Would your
| |
| | is estimated that between 30-60% of the
|
| business continue to function if several
| |
| | workforce will be out sick.Maintain a
|
| of your top key employees died? How many
| |
| | healthy work environment. Encourage hand
|
| employees are cross-trained in other
| |
| | washing, offer hand sanitizers, consider
|
| positions?A recent study showed the
| |
| | quality air purifiers. Limit face-to-face
|
| threat that most preoccupies the world's
| |
| | contact with employees and customers.
|
| business leaders is a global influenza
| |
| | Limit large group meetings, shared
|
| pandemic. This is why you need to start
| |
| | workstations and public events. Limit or
|
| asking these questions now so your
| |
| | eliminate non-essential business travel.
|
| business can be prepared for a possible
| |
| | Make use of conference calls and video
|
| bird flu pandemic. A bird flu pandemic
| |
| | conferencing.Review employment policies
|
| will not discriminate. Everyone from the
| |
| | to see if you can require employees to
|
| janitor to the CEO would be affected.
| |
| | stay home if they are sick. Establish new
|
| Worst-case scenario could leave millions
| |
| | sick time policies. Check employee
|
| sick and any where from 5 million to 1.5
| |
| | agreement clauses for business closure
|
| billion people dead around the world.The
| |
| | plans, hours of work and position
|
| World Bank, which has estimated that a
| |
| | changes. Establish policies and
|
| bird flu pandemic lasting a year, could
| |
| | procedures for sending staff home, staff
|
| cost the global economy up to $800
| |
| | leaving work on their own, unauthorized
|
| billion. The economic toll on the world
| |
| | absences and returning to work. Plan to
|
| economy will be catastrophic. There would
| |
| | offer additional sick time pay or wage
|
| be major economic losses due to worker
| |
| | and salary advances to staff unable to
|
| absences and interruptions in supply and
| |
| | work. Plan for family member illness,
|
| delivery chains. Even a ìmildî pandemic
| |
| | community quarantines, school/business
|
| would have lasting effects on your
| |
| | and public transportation closures.Offer
|
| business. Because a global flu pandemic
| |
| | telecommuting options to as many
|
| is such a threat, current business and
| |
| | employees as possible. Offer flextime and
|
| disaster response plans may not be
| |
| | other creative job options.Back up
|
| adequate to deal with it. What steps
| |
| | essential files off site, provide access
|
| should you start to take now to
| |
| | to a network of key employees.Establish a
|
| prepare?As with any worst-case scenario
| |
| | communication plan for employees and
|
| you should be aware of the risks and have
| |
| | business contacts. Include key contacts
|
| a contingency plan in place before you
| |
| | and tracking for employee status.
|
| need it. By planning now you will help
| |
| | Employees will be hungry for up to date
|
| keep your business running, your
| |
| | information about their business, jobs
|
| employees safe and head off possible
| |
| | and co-workers. Good communication with
|
| legal issues. Some of the steps you may
| |
| | your employees is essential to avoid
|
| want to consider are:Establish a pandemic
| |
| | rumors, panic and misinformation.To
|
| coordinator or team with responsibilities
| |
| | encourage employees to stock up on food
|
| for preparedness and response planning.
| |
| | and supplies for an extended home stay,
|
| Provide current avian influenza
| |
| | purchase supplies for them in bulk to
|
| information to all employees. Identify
| |
| | take advantage of discounts, offer the
|
| and make available information on
| |
| | savings to employees. Or offer them a
|
| community resources.Identify key
| |
| | SAMís Club or Costco membership at no
|
| essential areas and current employees
| |
| | charge.Taking these steps today will help
|
| responsible. Cross-train other employees
| |
| | your business be prepared for a possible
|
| in those areas so they are able to fill
| |
| | bird flu pandemic, survive for the
|
| in for sick employees. Have written
| |
| | duration and return to business as normal
|
| documentation for those employees filling
| |
| | faster than those who are not prepared.TJ
|
| in for others.Identify key suppliers and
| |
| | Smith writes about avian flu and the
|
| alternative sources for critical
| |
| | coming pandemic.To stay up to date on
|
| materials and supplies. Increase raw
| |
| | avian influenza, bird flu and the h5n1
|
| material inventories to keep production
| |
| | virus visit The Bird Flu Index Find
|
| going for several months. Plan for ìjust
| |
| | links to bird flu websites, blogs,
|
| in timeî inventory shortages. Products
| |
| | forums, official medical and government
|
| and inventory from Asian countries may
| |
| | sites and full information about how the
|
| not be available if Asian factories are
| |
| | bird flu could turn into a global
|
| shut down due to illness.Play "what if?"
| |
| | influenza pandemic. Search through the
|
| What if Joe in accounting was out sick
| |
| | article archive for the latest bird flu
|
| for a month? Or Sam in IT died? Who could
| |
| | articles.
|
