Could Bird Flu impact UK businesses?

New reports estimate that up to half of staff could fall ill or be absent from work if a bird flu pandemic hits and the UN warns today that the virus is spreading. But employers are still failing to recognise the financial blow that bird flu could have on their business, and are not make contingency plans quick enough, says business information provider, Croner.

Employers that fail to consider both coping with staff shortages and practical workplace hygiene risk bird flu damaging the economic health of their business.

Croner is receiving a growing number of calls to its telephone helplines from employers unsure if they should prepare for bird flu. Richard Smith, employment services director, says many of its clients are underestimating or unconcerned about the potential impact of the virus.

Smith says: "No one really knows whether the virus will become a pandemic, but after the UN warning today, we're advising employers to be prepared for the worst.

"Businesses should evaluate all real and perceived risks to their organisation. While it may be more front of mind to prepare for other threats such as terrorism, a pandemic could cause even greater disruption."

The Business Threats of Bird Flu
 

• Staff shortage through employees taking time off ill, to care for others, or to avoid infection
• Difficulty in finding cover for absent staff
• Cost of stringent health & safety policies and procedures for preventing spread of the virus
• Public transport disruption making it difficult or impossible for staff to get to work
• Cost of home-working solutions for those unable to attend work
• Disruption to supply chain
• Disruption to business travel, especially by air.

Croner is advising employers to put a contingency plan in place with contribution from HR, Health & Safety, and senior management personnel. The plan may include a simple information bulletin to employees to keep them informed of where they can travel to and where to avoid, or providing suitable equipment for employees to continue to work from home. Once a plan has been developed it is then up to the organisation to ensure that all employees are aware of it.

Smith says: "Employers can't afford to wait and see to what extent this virus might strike. It's only when they sit down and analyse the impact of a bird flu pandemic that they will begin to realise the potentially devastating effect it could have on their business. If the virus hits, there'll be no time for planning.

"Employers should think about how their business will run with a patchy workforce, and how they will cope if managers and directors fall ill. Practically they need to make decisions about company policies on sickness absence, and consider the risk of the virus spreading in communal workplaces.

"Our message to employers is not to panic, but make sure they have a contingency plan in place. Some careful consideration now will help employers plan for the additional resource needed to ensure their business survives bird flu."

Croner is offering the following guidelines for employers:
 

• Incorporate a contingency plan into overall business strategy
• Inform and consult employees to make them aware a plan exists and what to do if the pandemic reaches the UK
• Identify and keep records of skills and capabilities of the entire workforce so that employees may be redeployed into other roles if necessary
• Evaluate real and perceived risks by monitoring the spread of bird flu
• Look at alternative methods of communication, including web casting and video conferencing
• Reconsider policies on flexible working and home working