In an April 29, 2009, article published at Reuters.com titled, "WHO warns flu pandemic imminent," U.S. Secretary Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is quoted as saying:
"We are preparing for the worst; hoping for the best," Napolitano said. "All of us should be dusting off our business contingency plans, looking at things like telecommuting and the like so that things keep operating."
And in the April 30, 2009, issue of the Houston Chronicle, an Outlook article titled, "Are employers prepared for outbreak of swine flu?," a Houston attorney, who specializes in labor and employment law, writes that companies should make plans to avoid interruption. To that end, the authoring attorney outlines specific steps and precautions that companies might consider, such as modifying vacation and absenteeism policies temporarily to avoid encouraging ill or potentially infected employees to come to work.
As another step, and depending on the circumstances, employers can consider implementing a telecommuting program. In this piece authored by Kevin Troutman, former health care human resources executive and a partner in the Houston office of the law firm of Fisher & Phillips, L.L.P., Troutman writes:
"A telecommuting program would prove invaluable during an outbreak. This could therefore be the time to invest in the necessary hardware and software. Telecommuting employees could mean the difference between keeping a company going and having it shut down for a prolonged period during an epidemic."
Links to Online Resources and Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also activated its Emergency Operations Center to augment the CDC in an ongoing investigation of human case of swine influenza A (H1N1). As a rapidly evolving situation, the CDC will provide updated guidance and news information as it becomes available at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm
U.S. Government Internet site on Pandemic Flu and the Workplace:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/faq/workplace_questions/
HRTools.com related links:
Swine Flu: OSHA Provides Worker Safety and Health Guidance
The Swine Flu: What Employers Need to Know to Prepare for a Possible Pandemic
Insight: Considering a Remote Workforce?
Insight: Considering Telecommuting for Employees?
Insight: Making the Benefits of Telecommuting Work for Your Company
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