1 Out Of 3 Workers Could Be Hit By Flu | Businesses urged to prepare for the worst
While some business owners may be fretting over the possibility that one in three workers will be out with the H1N1 virus during this year’s flu season, Karen DeMichele, president of a local temporary staffing agency in Worcester, sees opportunity.
“We obviously don’t want anyone to get sick,” DeMichele said. “But we’re here and ready to fill in if companies need it.”
Health officials are warning businesses to prepare for a significant chunk of their workforce to call out sick for an extended period of time during the flu season.
“Without a doubt, businesses should be talking to their employees and seeing how they can continue their core business operations with 30 to 40 percent absenteeism,” said Dave Clemons, director of emergency management for the city of Worcester.
DeMichele, president of Savvy Staffing Solutions in Worcester, said she sees an uptick in demand each year for temporary workers during flu season. But, she said with staff cutbacks at many businesses due to the recession, even more businesses may not be able to absorb absenteeism and may have to turn to temporary staffing.
“Unfortunately people do get sick, and especially in this climate now where businesses are already running very slim, businesses may need some help with staffing,” DeMichele said. “We do expect to have a little rush because of (H1N1).”
Preventative Measures
Clemons said it’s important for businesses to help prevent their workers from getting sick and help them recover if they do get sick.
To that end, businesses should encourage employees to wash their hands frequently and cover their mouths and noses when coughing and sneezing. Line of succession plans should be developed to consider what the daily essential functions are at the business and how those can be performed with managers being out, or a substantial number of workers being out.
Health officials are asking companies to consider relaxing guidelines related to sick workers staying home for an extended period of time and not requiring a doctor’s note if they are sick.
Sarah Arel, benefits manager of Aubuchon Hardware stores, headquartered in Westminster, said she’s hoping not too many of their 1,100 hardware store workers get sick.
Hand sanitizers have been installed throughout the company and a disaster recovery plan is being put together. It will address how each department would deal with any sort of emergency situation, from a flu pandemic to an extended power outage.
“It’s a lot of ‘what ifs’ right now,” Arel said.
She said the company has not yet changed policies regarding sick time or employees not needing a doctor’s note, but she said the company would continue to monitor the situation and make changes if necessary.
Other companies, like Hopkinton-based EMC Corp., already have a robust plan in place. Delia Vetter, senior director of benefits and programs for EMC, said the company has had a pandemic planning team since the 2006 avian flu scare.
The team, which Vetter co-chairs, meets weekly with other company representatives from around the country to discuss the latest news on H1N1.
“We’re following advice and guidelines from the CDC, and we’re expecting employees will become ill, or will have children that may become ill,” Vetter said.
Vetter said having nearly a third of their workforce out sick is a realistic possibility. But, she said the company’s work related to information infrastructure lends itself easily to employees working from home.
Vetter said the crisis management team has been helpful not only for distributing information to their workforce about H1N1, but also for any other crises that may arise.
The federal Centers for Disease Control has a web site, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ business, with information specifically for businesses about how to prepare for the H1N1 virus.
The American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts is also holding an informational session on Oct. 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to discuss how small businesses can prepare for H1N1. Business leaders can register by calling 508-595-3700.
State health officials said the H1N1 virus is the predominant influenza virus in the country with an estimated 20,000 cases in the state since its outbreak last spring.
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