Public health officials are predicting the infection rate for H1N1 flu to reach 30 percent or higher. Below are recommendations for employers to help businesses in preparation for and during periods of high absenteeism.
- Review or establish a flexible influenza pandemic plan and involve your employees in developing and reviewing your plan. Assistance is available at http://knoxcounty.org/health/emer_prepare/pandemic_flu.php and download the Business Continuity Template listed on the navigation bar.
- Encourage or facilitate your employees getting vaccinated for seasonal flu.
- Be vigilant about infection control.
- Post messages about hand washing (posters are available in English and Spanish at http://knoxcounty.org/flu).
- Make hand sanitizer readily available and visible for employees and customers.
- Allow sick workers to stay home without fear of losing their jobs.
- Consider ways your employees can work from home.
- Develop other flexible leave policies to allow workers to stay home to care for sick family members or for children if schools dismiss students or child care programs close.
- Practice your plan now to find out whether the plan has gaps or problems that need to be corrected before absenteeism adversely affects your business.
- Know your organization’s normal seasonal absenteeism rates and monitor your personnel for any unusual increases in absenteeism this fall and winter.
- Share your influenza pandemic plan with employees and explain what human resources policies, workplace and leave flexibilities, and pay and benefits will be available to them.
- Share best practices with other businesses in your communities (especially those in your supply chain), chambers of commerce, and associations to improve community response efforts.
- Keep your employees informed about flu. Add information to your company Web page or employee site and include links to sites with the latest information on influenza such as www.cdc.gov/widgets/ , www.cdc.gov/SocialMedia/Campaigns/H1N1/buttons.html and www.knoxcounty.org/flu
