While the H1N1 flu pandemic has yet to reach crisis proportions, plan sponsors have an operational and legal obligation to plan for the worst.

According to Gisele Norris, national director of Aon Healthcare’s alternative risk practice, the potential business impact of a second wave of the H1N1 pandemic is real and must be addressed.

“Disease in the workplace can cause high incidences of absenteeism, stress and productivity loss,” she says. “Today’s highly mobile, interdependent and interconnected business environment provides a myriad of opportunities for the rapid spread of infectious disease.”

Norris offers five immediate steps for businesses to take to protect their staff and other stakeholders:

• Determine the availability of backup suppliers to ensure the supply chain is uninterrupted.
• Look at succession planning for all levels of the organization.
• Create a process for communicating critical messages to employees.
• Develop a protocol to facilitate arrangements for employees to work from home.
• Inform employees of any travel protocols or restrictions that may be in place.
• Construct a plan of action to take should an employee be suspected of having H1N1 influenza when he or she is at work or has been in the workplace three to four days before the onset of symptoms.

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The Labour Ministry recently issued the Labour Focus Newsletter Volume 1, H1N1 Special Issue, reminding employers of their obligations under the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations concerning health and safety measures in the workplace.

“I want to remind Canadian employers concerned about the human swine influenza situation to continue monitoring the information and advice provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada and take appropriate steps to protect the health and safety of employees in the workplace,” she says. “The Government of Canada will continue to work closely with provincial and territorial labour departments to protect the health and safety of Canadian workers.”

Jody White is associate editor of benefitscanada.com.

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