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4th September, 2009 - 50pc of working population could take time off
6th August, 2009 - Training Scenarios on BBC London News
27th July, 2009 - One in three staff off work at peak with swine flu
18th July, 2009 - Training will help firms deal with flu crisis
13th July, 2009 - Swine flu warning to businesses
13th July, 2009 - Why you shouldn't kiss your colleagues...
Swine Flu: 50pc of working population could take time off
- By Rowena Mason, Daily Telegraph
4th September, 2009
Businesses should prepare for half of their staff to take time off with swine flu for up to four weeks this autumn and winter, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Researchers found that 57pc of employers have no contingency plans for dealing with a swine flu pandemic. New guidance issued by the CIPD and the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) warns that absence rates will soar during a predicted second wave of the highly contagious flu now that schools return from the summer break.
The prediction that half the working population could be absent at the same time is far above the Government's guidance that sickness rates could reach 12pc, but both organisations said companies ought to prepare for the worst.
Closures of both childcare facilities and schools due to swine flu outbreaks are expected to add to the staff absence levels. However, the researchers found that 57pc of employers have no contingency plans for dealing with a swine flu pandemic.
Ben Willmott, a senior public policy adviser at the CIPD, said the significant risk to businesses has not subsided, despite a reduction in news coverage over the summer.
"There is a real danger that senior management teams ignore the threat to their business posed by a second and more serious wave of swine flu after seeing the first wave subside much more quickly than anticipated," he said. "The media and public hysteria sparked by the initial stage of the pandemic has created a 'cry wolf' effect where the temptation for business leaders is to ask what all the fuss was about and get on with the priority of competing and surviving in recession."
It will make "business as usual" for most companies extremely difficult, he added.
The CIPD said prioritising essential activities, cross-training staff, considering how to reduce human contact and putting in place plans for remote working ought to be the first steps. But keeping on top of Government advice, communicating plans to employees and following public health agency advice are also important.
"A pre-pandemic plan will help minimise losses, but it's not enough to just focus on the impact of large-scale absence on the business itself," Mr Willmott said. "Supply-chain and customer issues also need to be considered to keep businesses afloat if there is new surge of swine flu."
The warning comes as the CBI, the business lobby group, is preparing to debate how to tackle swine flu with the UK's biggest companies.
Bruce Mann, director of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat at the Cabinet Office and Professor Lindsey Davies, national director of pandemic influenza preparedness for the Department of Health, are among speakers at a panel session, which is due to be held today.
Published Daily Telegrapgh, 4th Septmeber 2009.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/6134419/Swine-flu-50pc-of-working-population-could-take-time-off.html
Training Scenarios on BBC London News
One in three staff off work at peak with swine flu
27th July, 2009
Up to one in three workers could be off work due to swine flu with devastating effects to small and medium sized businesses, according to the crisis management company, Training Scenarios.
These figures combine the Government’s assumption of one in eight off work together with the effects of school closures, those caring for sick relatives at home and those staying away from work through fear of catching the virus.
“We are not saying that this will necessarily be the case but companies need to plan for this worst case scenario,” said the company’s director Helen Shannon
“While this would have an extremely serious impact on most businesses, the small and medium-sized businesses are especially vulnerable. If you run a small firm with just six employees – each of whom hold multiple functions, to lose two at the same time could be devastating,” she said.
“Ironically while the large companies can afford to employ pandemic consultants – those most at risk, namely the smaller companies, cannot. More than one in three companies has no pandemic plan in place.”
“There are many simple precautions that companies could take now to keep their business going in the peak of a pandemic such as enabling employees to work from home, “said Shannon .
“For further information contact Helen Shannon at Training Scenarios/Operational Command Training Organisation 01244 405270 or Helen Glanville 07813 687234
www.trainingscenarios.com
Training will help firms deal with flu crisis - by Allison Dickinson, Chester Chronicle
18th June, 2009
A CHESTER businesswoman is helping companies to handle the swine flu pandemic.
Crisis trainer Helen Shannon has launched Pandemic Training Scenarios, which she claims to be the first training package of its kind.
It is designed to enable businesses to role-play the situations they will be faced with in a pandemic.
Helen, who runs Chester-based crisis and leadership training company OCTO, has predicted that many businesses could have to cope with up to half of their staff off work.
“We've seen that a single action, such as the closing of one or two schools through swine flu, can have significant knock-on effects,” she said.
“Now just imagine that all schools are closed, that up to half your staff are off sick, that your critical deliveries are not coming through and that some of your key departments have had to shut down.
“This is not an unrealistic scenario and even such extreme situations are manageable with proper preparation and staff training.
“With a pandemic predicted to peak in September, businesses should plan now before their staff disappear for their summer holidays.”
Following the training, companies work out how to protect their critical areas of business.
Contact Helen Shannon or James Jenkin on 01244 405270 for details, or visit www.trainingscenarios.com.
"Swine flu warning to businesses" - Press Association
13th July, 2009
Businesses should encourage colleagues to keep their distance during meetings and stop shaking hands and kissing on the cheek to avoid the potentially costly impact of swine flu, according to a pandemic training company.
Training Scenarios has released a set of measures amid fears the virus could cost British industries up to £1.5 billion a day as it spreads.
The firm, which is linked to Chester and London-based Operation Command Training Organisation, said taking steps such as setting up home working for employees, maintaining two-metre distances between staff and wiping phones and door handles could make a significant difference.
One of its directors, Helen Glanville, said: “With the pandemic predicted to peak in September, businesses must start planning now before their staff disappears for their summer holidays. What companies do now could determine which organisations can cope and which cannot.
“At its worst up to 50% of staff could be off sick. Companies must plan for this in advance.”
She said the closure of one or two schools in an area through swine flu had already had knock-on effects.
“Now just imagine that all schools are closed, that up to half your staff are off sick, that your critical deliveries are not coming through and that some of your key departments have had to shut down,” she added.
“This is not an unrealistic scenario and even such extreme situations are manageable with proper preparation and staff training.”
Copyright © 2009 The Press Association. All rights reserved
Why you shouldnt kiss your colleagues - By Nicola McCafferty for express.co.uk
13th July, 2009
BUSINESSES are encouraging staff to stop shaking hands and kissing on the cheek to avoid the costly impact of swine flu.
Colleagues are being advised to keep a two-metre distance and wipe phones and door handles as part of a new set of measures outlined by a pandemic training company.
Training Scenarios today released the guides amid fears the virus could cost British industries up to £1.5 billion a day as it spreads.
It added that taking steps such as setting up home working for employees and advising staff to keep their distance during meetings could make a significant difference.
Helen Glanville, one of its directors, said: With the pandemic predicted to peak in September, businesses must start planning now before their staff disappears for their summer holidays.
"What companies do now could determine which organisations can cope and which cannot.
At its worst up to 50 per cent of staff could be off sick. Companies must plan for this in advance.
She said the closure of one or two schools in an area through swine flu had already had knock-on effects.
"Now just imagine that all schools are closed, that up to half your staff are off sick, that your critical deliveries are not coming through and that some of your key departments have had to shut down," she added.
"This is not an unrealistic scenario and even such extreme situations are manageable with proper preparation and staff training."
Training Scenarios has been extensively interviewed on BBC local radio and independent radio