HR Industry News

Planning needed for flu pandemic

— 7 September 2007 —

Businesses should have the foresight to create business continuity plans which include cover of absent employees. All staff in their respective areas should be cross-skills trained to take into account this eventuality.

Lisa Moore, Risk and
Environment Officer, Ceridian

A lack of forward planning would leave businesses crippled and millions of workers unprotected in the event of a flu pandemic this winter.

New research by pharmaceutical giant Roche has revealed that seven out of ten companies are not sufficiently organised to protect their workers.

The company questioned 515 managers, including 150 HR directors, and found that despite an awareness of a risk to employees, 69% felt that up to a third of their workforce would face increased stress in a pandemic.

More than a third of managers did not have any plans for communicating with employees and customers in the event of an outbreak whilst just two in 10 knew that their company had to set up such a strategy.

The chairman of the Continuity Forum, Russell Price, believes that HR directors needed to do more to protect their employees.

He is reported as saying that HR directors simply aren't putting enough emphasis on business continuity in the event of a pandemic, despite the huge impact it would have on staff.

Strategic Dynamics Consultancy Services director of HR consultancy, Jon Ingham, added that HR teams need to prepare a communication plan and, if the risk was considered to be sufficient, they would then need to educate employees about potential actions.

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