‘Plan now’ advice for day when swine flu strikes

Wednesday 5th August 2009, 3:00PM BST.

Emergency planning officer Michael Long

BUSINESSES should be planning now for staff absence because of swine flu.

Health specialists say that the first wave could be starting as early as the end of this month and that up to 50% of the workforce could be affected over a six-week period.

Michael Long, emergency planning officer at the Chief Minister’s department, told businesses last week that the department was ‘very aware’ of the potential damage to the economy, not only because of employees taking time off sick but also because of the need for them to look after members of their family.

Up to 200 business representatives attended the free seminar on swine flu on Thursday at the Hotel de France – many more than anticipated by organisers Law at Work.

• See Wednesday’s JEP for full story and more business news.

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1
Jersey Cow

August 5, 2009 at 5:03 pm

I think we should re-name 2009 as ‘The Year of the Supplementary Holiday’.

At my place of work we have already experienced cases of a staff being signed off with suspected swine flu, knowing full well that results are taking on average 1 week to be turned around, thus an extra weeks holiday to do cleaning around the home, or to look after the children whilst on school holiday without having to pay for child care.

Whilst I agree that a certain level of awareness is warranted, to estimate that 50% of the work force could be affected over the next six week period is like setting a level of acceptable precedence.

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2
sf

August 5, 2009 at 11:17 pm

great idea to get 200 people in a room together for seminar on it!

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3
Bean

August 6, 2009 at 3:13 pm

Stay at work and share it, get it now before it mutates?

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