Preparing Your Business for a Bird Flu Pandemic
How would your business operate if half your work force were out
sick? Would your business continue to function if several of
your top key employees died? How many employees are
cross-trained in other positions?
A recent study showed the threat that most preoccupies the
world's business leaders is a global influenza pandemic. This is
why you need to start asking these questions now so your
business can be prepared for a possible 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, which has estimated that a bird 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" pandemic would have lasting effects on your business.
Because a global flu pandemic is such a threat, current business
and disaster response plans may not be adequate to deal with it.
What steps should you start to take now to prepare?
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. Some of the
steps you may want to consider are:
Establish a 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.
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. 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 SAM's 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.