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