Businesses

In the event of an influenza pandemic, businesses and employers will play a key role in protecting their employees' health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the economy and society. Companies that provide critical infrastructure services, such as power and telecommunications, also have a special responsibility to plan for continued operation in a crisis and should plan accordingly. As with any catastrophe, having a contingency plan is essential.

Plan to Stay in Business

A business continuity plan outlines how to preserve and restore critical business functions after an emergency whether it be a fire, a power outage or a pandemic. Create a plan by determining which staff, materials, procedures, contacts, and equipment are necessary to keep the business operating at the most basic level. Think about how a pandemic or other hazards may disrupt the core functions of your business. Think about how they may affect access to your business. Develop emergency plans with key suppliers and other people you depend on to do business. Cultivate relationships with more than one supplier to ensure that a disaster that shuts down a supplier does not also shut you down.

Talk to Your People

One of the best methods of assuring your company's recovery is to provide for your coworkers' well-being. Communicate regularly with employees before, during, and after a pandemic or other emergency event. Use newsletters, intranets, staff meetings, and other internal communications tools to communicate emergency plans and procedures. Develop a plan to communicate with employees during an emergency, like a phone tree or a messaging service.

Preparing for a Pandemic

Consider how your business will continue during a pandemic.
- What are your essential business operations?
- Can you continue to operate if 30% of your staff are ill?
- Can workers be cross-trained to cover essential business functions in case essential workers are ill during a pandemic?
Are staggered shifts or work-at-home options such as telecommuting, accessing remote networks, and using portable computers possible for you employees?
Consider flexible sick leave policies to prevent spread of illness in your workplace and/or to allow employees to car for a family member.
Prepare contact lists including conference calls, telephone chains, and email distribution lists, to access or distribute necessary information.

Additional Information

PandemicFlu.gov: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
Ready.gov Business Preparedness: http://www.ready.gov/