Emails, meetings and intranet sites are just a few of the mediums being used in the effort to communicate pandemic policies to employees, in some cases at great cost. But how do employers know if the message is getting through? A new web-based quiz purports to provide an answer within 15 minutes.
A free e-learning resource called H1N1 in the Workplace—designed to increase businesses’ preparedness for H1N1—is a 15-minute course that includes a pre-test and post-test to measure and improve the readiness of any organization’s employees and managers. According to online education firm CoursePark Learning Management Network, the program saw the average score for those doing the manager’s course improve by 67% within the first 15 days, while the average score for the employee’s course improved by 57%.
“We all hope that H1N1 never becomes the threat that some feel it could be,” says Emad Rizkalla, president of Bluedrop Performance Learning, the company that created the course. “But it’s concerning to see businesses betting their well-being, and that of their employees, on that being the case.”
If worst-case scenarios play out, government sources estimate that between 15% and 35% of the workforce could be rendered ineffective, he explains. While some companies are making a genuine effort to educate their staff, it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of their campaigns.
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“Yes some companies are posting Internet links, holding meetings and putting up posters,” says Rizkalla. “But are employees really learning what to do? Bluedrop’s H1N1 course sorts fact from fiction. Managers have been able to track who has taken the course, who has the necessary knowledge, and who needs more training. Removing uncertainty can help stop the spread of H1N1, not to mention the spread of apathy, fear or ignorance.”
According to Rizkalla the H1N1 in the Workplace course allows employers to:
• measure how ready employees are for H1N1 and correct any vulnerabilities that might remain;
• easily distribute the course to all employees by email; and
• see exactly which workers complete the course and the scores obtained.
He says the course can typically be completed in 10 to 15 minutes and covers the key points without bogging down or overwhelming busy workers.
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