Prepare for Increase in Absenteeism due to Possible H1N1 Pandemic

Absenteeism will be the central issue that businesses wrestle with during the H1N1 flu pandemic, said Robert Clements, principal, Axsium Group. The report last month by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology says it is plausible that up to 120 million Americans could contract swine flu this fall and winter. This would lead to a dramatic increase in absenteeism as workers fall sick or stay home to take care of children.

Axsium Group, a workforce management consulting firm, recommends employers take the following steps now to prepare for the pandemic:

1. Re-educate employees about absence and leave policies so that if they fall sick, employees know what their entitlements are and how to properly report absences.
2. Know which employees are cross-trained and in what areas. Quick responsiveness requires that capabilities are documented and provided to the workforce management system so that it knows what skills employees have if one or more replacements have to be found quickly.

Reprinted with permission. © CCH
(Submitted Oct. 1, 2009)

<p>Employers should remind or re-educate employees about leave and absence policies. Employers should also know what employees are cross-trained and in what areas.</p>

Prepare for Increase in Absenteeism due to Possible H1N1 Pandemic

/workplace_safety/prepare_for_increase_in_absenteeism_due_to_possible_h1n1_pandemic.aspx

14988