HSE advises businesses to plan for the pandemic
The HSE has issued advice to businesses in Ireland regarding planning for Swine flue or the Influenza (H1N1) pandemic.
The HSE has now moved into the treatment phase rather than managing the containment of the spread of this pandemic.
As pandemic planning is not solely a public health issue, all businesses need to consider the implications of an influenza pandemic for their business and make business continuity plans.
During this pandemic, staff will be absent from work if they are ill with influenza or if they need to care for others who are ill with influenza. At the core of business continuity planning should be an estimate of absenteeism rates which is likely to be around 15%.
Now is the time to plan for this challenge in order to protect your staff and your business.
Among the challenges businesses may face, in addition to high rates of absenteeism, are disruption to supply chains and business travel, infection control amongst employees, drop in demand for goods and services, strain on humans resources, insurance and cash flow.
Businesses are advised to prepare by appointing a pandemic coordinator and deputy who will understand the critical requirements, plan accordingly and communicate with staff in order to help protect staff and reduce the impact on productivity levels.
Visit the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment website at www.entemp.ie to view and download the Business Continuity Planning – Responding to an Influenza Pandemic document which gives advice and a checklist to businesses on planning for the pandemic. And the National Pandemic Influenza Plan is available from www.hse.ie and www.dohc.ie