Author Matthew Potter

Issue July 09

Pub Suf Bus

With media attention on the possibility of a global flu pandemic, employers should be dusting off Business Continuity Plans (or perhaps using them for the first time!)

BOTH the Cabinet Office and the DBERR provide useful guidance and checklists in relation to preparing such plans. In particular, you should give thought as to how a pandemic may affect your business.

• The effect it may have on both your employees, customers and clients
• What new policies need to be implemented during any pandemic
• Address health and safety concerns in order to protect both your staff and indeed customers and clients during a pandemic
• How do you communicate all policies and plans to staff

With regard to employees, there are two main areas that you need to address:

1. How to forecast and plan for employee absences whilst continuing to service your clients and customers; and
2. How to protect your staff from a health and safety perspective.

You should have firm employment policies in place dealing with how employees may continue to work, travel to and from work or possibly work from home. For businesses which can be sustained by phone, fax and e-mail, you may wish to ensure that all staff are provided with the access to your systems from home. Indeed, your staff may need to protect not only themselves, but also their families, especially if they have young or elderly members of their family.

Managers, team leaders and supervisors would also need to know how to manage their staff and teams remotely. Cascade policies should also be put in place to ensure effective communication.

The other problem which may certainly arise during a pandemic may be those employees who are well enough, or indeed safe enough to attend work, but refuse to do so. Policies should be put in place in relation to those types of situation whereby you may agree for individuals to remain away from work unpaid, but subject to review and indeed unless they return to work within a certain timeframe, that possible disciplinary measures may be considered.

With the health and safety of staff being paramount, employers should carry out a full risk assessment and consider implementing any changes to their premises in order to protect their staff. Indeed, if your business is engaged in providing services that require face-to-face contact with customers and clients, consideration may be need to be given as to how they are protected. Although the above measures address issues relating to a pandemic, employers might put in place similar measures for other natural disasters such as flood, fire or even a possible terrorist attack.

On a lighter note, planning to expect the unexpected can assist in team building and a greater co-operation between staff. So what are you waiting for?

Matthew Potter, Partner

Tel: 01473 261355

Email: matthew.potter@ashtonkcj.co.uk

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