Swine flu: Employers prepared to close their premises to stop spread of virus
By David Woods Wednesday, 19 August 2009
More than a fifth of employers (21%) think they will have to close or part close their premises because of the swine flu pandemic.
Further Reading
- Flu costs the British economy £1.35 billion
- Employers warned to educate staff on the importance of hand-washing in minimising infection
- New absence management service introduced at East Sussex local authority
- The CIPD has accused employers of relaxing their guard over swine flu
- Swine flu: Local councils are failing in their duty to help small firms prepare for an epidemic
- Forcing swine flu vaccinations on staff could be a legal minefield for employers
- Swine flu: A quarter of employers not fully prepared for changes to sickness self-certification
- Swine flu: how to handle absences and protect the remaining workforce
- Doctors can be an exception to the Working Time rules
- Swine flu won't affect doctors' implementation of Working Time rules, says NHS Employers
- Working Time regulations implementation should be postponed because of swine flu implications
- Government must help SMEs cope with swine flu, says Federation of Small Businesses
- British Chambers of Commerce to host swine flu interactive web seminar
- Swine flu mass staff absence could relieve companies of their contractual obligations
- Swine flu call-centre to open in London offering 800 temporary jobs - including HR roles
- Swine flu absence set to cost business £8.6 billion
- Swine flu: Employers could face fines for not protecting staff from the virus
- CIPD backs plans to allow staff with swine flu to self-certificate for up to 14 days
- Health and wellbeing: Healthcare provision - Healthy competition
- One in 10 employers still not prepared for swine flu
- Don't panic over swine flu, TUC boss warns
- How should HR departments handle fears of a swine flu pandemic?
- EXCLUSIVE: Huge numbers of companies keen to get hold of swine-flu, anti-viral medication for staff
- Increase in numbers calling in sick with coughs, colds and flu following swine flu pandemic reports
To prevent swine flu spreading 22% plan to ban non-essential travel and 16% would shut down their workplace altogether.
Almost three-quarters of UK employers (72%) have reported absences due to the swine flu virus and 38% believe they will lose revenue as the disease spreads but, given the economic circumstances, 49% claim swine flu is only one of a number of priorities being faced by their organisation.
The research from law firm Eversheds shows 87% of employers have increased hygiene measures around the workplace and 86% have got HR departments on the case, with HR policies including flexible working (28%), paid leave to contain infection (20%) and requiring infected staff to stay at home (70%).
But a quarter of employers see swine flu as a low priority and 13% have not given out information to staff about the disease or increased hygiene measures and 14% have not put any HR policies in place.
Martin Warren, head of employment law at Eversheds, said: "Our survey of HR professionals at the coal face of business reveals the majority of organisations are already feeling the impact of swine flu and are planning for further escalation this autumn.
"Given how quickly the illness can strike and spread, deciding to only tackle the problem when it becomes apparent could debilitate many organisations, particularly those with smaller workforces."
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