How would your business work if half of your employees were sick? Will your business continue to operate if a few of your top employees die? How many employees are trained in the opposite positions? Recent research has revealed a major concern for business leaders around the world is the global flu epidemic.
That’s why you need to start asking these questions now so that your business is ready for the possible bird flu epidemic. The bird flu epidemic will not discriminate against them. Everyone from the guard to the CEO will be affected. The worst case scenario could leave millions sick and wherever 5 million to 1.5 billion people die worldwide.
The World Bank, which estimates that a year-long bird flu epidemic could cost the global economy $800 billion. The economic downturn in the global economy will be catastrophic. There will be significant economic losses due to unemployment and disruption of service delivery. Even a small epidemic can have lasting effects on your business.
Because the global flu epidemic is such a threat, current business plans and disasters may not be enough to deal with it. What steps should you take now to prepare yourself? As with any serious condition, you should be aware of the risks and have an emergency plan in place before you need it.
By planning now you will help keep your business running, your employees safe and prevent potential legal problems. Some steps you might want to consider are: Establishing a pandemic coordinator or team responsible for preparedness and planning response.
Provide current bird flu information to all staff. Identify and make information available through social services. Identify key areas and current responsible employees. Train other staff in those areas so that they can fill the sick staff.
Have written notes of those employees who fill in for others. Identify key suppliers and other resources and assets. Expand the raw material list to keep production going for a few months. Set “timely” stock deficits.
Products and catalogs from Asian countries may not be available if Asian factories close due to illness. Play “What if?” What if Joe in accounting has been sick for a month? Or is Sam dead in IT? Who can fill it, how would the business go? It is estimated that between 30-60% of employees will become ill.
Maintain a healthy work environment. Encourage handwashing, provide hand cleaners, consider high quality air cleaners. Limit face-to-face contact with staff and customers. Limit large group meetings, shared workplaces and community events.
Limit or remove non-essential business trips. Use conference calls and video conferencing. Review employment policies to see if you can keep employees at home when they are sick. Establish new sick leave policies.
Examine the clauses of the employee agreement for business closure plans, working hours and shift positions. Set policies and procedures for sending workers home, workers leaving work alone, unauthorized leave and return to work.
Plan to offer additional pay for sick leave or salary and salary improvements for employees who are unable to work. Plan family member illness, community closure, school / business closures and public transportation. Provide telecommunication options to as many employees as possible. Provide flextime and other creative activity options.
Make a backup copy of important files off-site, granting access to a network of important employees. Establish a contact system for employees and business contacts. Involve key contacts and job status tracking. Employees will be hungry for the latest information about their business, jobs and co-workers.
Good communication with your employees is essential to avoid rumors, panic and indirect information. To encourage employees to pack enough food and necessities to stay home longer, buy more in bulk to get discounts, give employees a savings.
Or offer Sami, Club or Costco membership for free. Taking these steps today will help your business prepare for the bird flu epidemic, live longer and return to business as usual faster than those who are unprepared.
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