Swine flu: Local councils are failing in their duty to help small firms prepare for an epidemic
By David Woods Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Local authorities are not doing enough to help small businesses put in measures to prepare for a swine flu pandemic, according to the Forum of Private Business (FPB).
Further Reading
- Flu costs the British economy £1.35 billion
- Employers warned to educate staff on the importance of hand-washing in minimising infection
- The CIPD has accused employers of relaxing their guard over swine flu
- Forcing swine flu vaccinations on staff could be a legal minefield for employers
- Swine flu: Employers prepared to close their premises to stop spread of virus
- 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
- How should HR departments handle fears of a swine flu pandemic?
- Employee who may have been in contact with swine flu is asked to work from home
- 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
- Employee Benefits: Global differences
- Working mums soldier on even when sick
Councils in the UK are obliged to help local businesses put measures in place to deal with outbreaks of infection but, according to the FPB, none of is members has received any support or guidance on the issue from their local authorities and are instead turning to the forum for help.
Under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004), local authorities are required to help their local businesses to make sure crises do not cause widespread collapse of business. And with smaller employers particularly at risk, the FPB is calling on councils to do more.
Matt Goodman, policy representative at the FPB, said: "Small businesses pay their hefty business rates for one reason - in exchange for the services and infrastructure provided by their council - so you would expect them to be given a little bit of guidance at this critical time.
"Swine flu could prove to be a major headache for thousands of small firms that don't have the workforce to absorb staff sicknesses, so it is vitally important that they are given every possible bit of help to see them through it."
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