As this Fox News story reports, business owners need to prepare for how business will run with the absence of employees who have come down with 2009 H1N1 flu strain as well as any sickness. How would it affect your business if 1, 2, or 10 people were unable to get to the office for a couple of days or even weeks? According to Homeland Security, outbreaks of H1N1 are expected to coincide with the upcoming flu season and it’s time to become proactive.
The latest report from the President’s Council on Science and Technology (Aug. 24) describes a “plausible scenario” in which 30-50% of the U.S. population becomes infected with H1N1 this season. Three to six million Americans could be infected at the same time on the pandemic’s peak day, estimated to be in mid-October.
Employers will confront many state and federal regulatory challenges in this pandemic. Current assumptions about H1N1 push the boundaries of most existing absence-from-work policies.
WingSwept has some good news to offer. A major outbreak doesn’t have to drastically affect your business if a significant portion of your workforce are unable to access their desktops and network from a secure Internet source and easily continue working from the safety of their own home. WingSwept can setup your business so that employees have the ability to work away from the office. With this strategy in place, you will not have to risk everyone’s health by urging staff members to come back to the office before they are fully recovered.
As a small business in this economy, you cannot afford to let your business slow down due to this for this type of situation. Be prepared. Also consider other occasions you will be happy you have the option to stay connected, like days staff cannot come to the office due to inclement weather, a sick family member, or a disaster occurring while on vacation.
If you would like to hear more on how we can help your business get prepared and stay connected, contact our helpdesk by phone (919.600.5100) or email (help@wingswept.com).
WingSwept Team
Note: To read the flu preparedness guide for business and individuals put together by the Centers for Disease Control, visit http://www.flu.gov/.
