| Background | | | | quarantine situation, the fewer places a person |
| The H1N1, formerly know as swine flu, has been | | | | has to visit the lower the likelihood that they will |
| in the news for a few months. It was thought to | | | | come in contact with someone who is contagious. |
| have leveled off but it appears that this may not | | | | Additionally if someone has to be away from |
| be the case. Long story short, it looks like the | | | | work to care for a sick relative, it would be |
| world is going to be hit with a pandemic. This | | | | helpful if they could perform some of their job |
| means lots of people sick and lots of people | | | | function away from the office. |
| caring for sick family members. What this means | | | | 4. Backup Plan - What are there outside |
| to your business is that you need to prepare now! | | | | resources you can use to operate your business |
| Tips on Preparation | | | | in case you have an outbreak in your office. By |
| If your company does not have a disaster | | | | that I mean can you maintain operations with a |
| recovery plan, now is the time to get one. For | | | | significantly scaled back operation? Do you have a |
| now let's assume there is a pandemic. You will | | | | continuity plan in place that includes a temp |
| need to do a couple of things to prepare. | | | | staffing service in case of disasters? One that |
| | | | knows your business and can provide you short |
| 1. Review Leave Policy - Make sure you have one | | | | term help? What is your plan if your city/area is |
| and it is clear. If you are a small business you | | | | put under quarantine? Do you have clear lines of |
| need a handbook and a leave policy. | | | | authority and job descriptions in case of disaster? |
| 2. Cross Train - Figure out who has job functions | | | | Make your backup plans during now. The point is |
| that don't have a backup. Any person who | | | | to prepare now. Make those contingency |
| performs a function that you can not afford to | | | | agreements now so when the time comes you |
| live without needs a backup. Taking that one step | | | | can be prepared. It could save your business. |
| further you need to have a backup plan for | | | | Remember people are your most important |
| every critical function of your organization. | | | | asset. Make sure you have them in place and |
| 3. Quarantine - Are there job functions that can | | | | they know their responsibilities in a crisis and you |
| operate remotely for a short time. Leverage | | | | stand a better chance of your business surviving. |
| technology to allow people to work remotely. In a | | | | |