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Swine Flu - What Businesses Need To Know

Swine flu has reached pandemic level and employers need to be proactive to ensure that they do not fall foul of health and safety legislation and to make sure they have plans in place to deal with the effect on their businesses.

Maeve Vickery, Head of Employment at Battens Solicitors says "it is crucial that employers make plans now rather than try to deal with issues as they arise."

Key points:

• Make sure the genuinely ill are kept away from the workplace. At the same time any unreasonable refusal to come to work by the "worried well" could lead to disciplinary action
• Make sure employers and staff are aware of Government guidelines on good hygiene practice - use posters, e mail and intranet to communicate the main points to staff
• Make sure procedures for reporting absence and any special arrangements for dealing with an outbreak are clearly communicated to staff
• Review sickness and absence policies. Consider creating provisions specifically to deal with the pandemic - allowing flexible work hours or home working if workplace affected - in which case check contact details of staff
• Prepare for all staff to have 5-7 days off and consider the effect of a reduced workforce on remaining workers. Be prepared for absences due to family and dependant's ill health. Consider limiting amount of time for such absence

The pandemic will present a challenge for the majority of employers. Taking steps to assess the risks and putting plans in place now will help businesses fulfil their legal obligations to staff and their commitments to customers.

For a free initial telephone consultation regarding any of these issues please contact Maeve on 01935 846000.

Created: 17 August 2009