Flu & Business Continuity

It's flu season again, and across the country more and more cases are being reported. If you haven't planned for how to deal with the absences flu can cause, there's still time to figure out how you'll deal with things as the flu season progresses. And it's not too early to start planning for the 2014-15 flu season!

The Centers for Disease Control provides information on the flu season and more. (Item #1)   This guidance for employers can help reduce employees' exposure to flu. (Item #2)   Here are some tips to help in planning for a safer, flu-free workplace. (Item #3)  

Don't think flu can affect your business? Think again. (Item #4)   This article offers employers best practices for preventing the spread of flu. (Item #5)   Plan for the impact of a flu pandemic or epidemic. (Item #6)  

As always, we look forward to hearing your comments & insights regarding business continuity. If you have a topic you'd like us to cover, email me at [email protected].

Bob Mellinger, President
Attainium Corp

1. Seasonal Flu

The CDC provides information on and recommendations for the current flu season. From health advisories and reports to vaccinations, you'll find it all on the CDC site. Remember that flu season can last as late as May.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/

2. Employer Guidance: Reducing All Workers' Exposures to Seasonal Flu Virus

There are some basic precautions that can protect workers during the flu season. This page gives employers and managers information about how to protect workers whose job tasks involve contact with coworkers and the general public. Workers who provide healthcare services are addressed separately. All employers can implement a combination of controls to protect workers and reduce the transmission of the seasonal flu virus in the workplace.
https://www.osha.gov/dts/guidance/flu/nonhealthcare.html

3. Flu Preparedness and Business Continuity Plans Combat the Spread of the H1N1 Virus

The UGL Unicco Flu Preparedness and Business Continuity Plan is a comprehensive set of procedures and cleaning services that are designed to help ensure the health and safety of customers' personnel, the public and UGL Unicco employees during flu events, up to and including pandemic events. The program begins by designating a chain of command starting with a Business Continuity Manager and alternates for each account. It also calls for the implementation of emergency communications procedures that include hotlines, pre-arranged phone conferencing and pre-developed contact lists for customers, civil authorities and emergency responders.
http://mcmorrowreport.com/sfm/articles/flu.asp

4. What the flu can cost your organization

The flu's impact on industries varies greatly as some businesses may suffer from a loss of productivity due to absent workers and yet others such as hospitals and clinics may be overwhelmed. Fortunately there are some things every business can do to help mitigate the flu's impact this year.
http://www.mintek.com/blog/eam-cmms/flu-affect-business/

5. Best Practices to Mitigate Flu's Impact in Workplace

With three months remaining in what is already being called the worst flu season in a decade, employers around the country are likely feeling the financial impact of increased healthcare costs and widespread absenteeism. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that, on average, seasonal flu outbreaks cost the nation's employers $10.4 billion in direct costs of hospitalizations and outpatient visits. That does not include the indirect costs related to lost productivity and absenteeism.
http://www5.cbia.com/hr/article/best-practices/

6. Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist

In the event of pandemic influenza, businesses will play a key role in protecting employees' health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the economy and society. Planning for pandemic influenza is critical. To assist you in your efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed the following checklist for large businesses. It identifies important, specific activities large businesses can do now to prepare, many of which will also help you in other emergencies.
http://www.flu.gov/planning-preparedness/business/businesschecklist.pdf