September 25, 2009

Has your employer told you what to do if you get swine flu?

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Schools and colleges may be gearing up for potential swine flu outbreaks among their student body and staff. But in a survey conducted this month by marketing firm Mansfield Communications, 69 percent of working Americans polled said their employer has yet to utter a peep about swine flu prevention in the workplace and related sick leave or telework policies.

Instead, 84 percent of the 1,028 workers polled said they felt pressure to go to work sick, thanks to the shaky economy and job market.

Mansfield Communications also found that 80 percent of workers surveyed said they were "knowledgeable about precautions that should be taken if the virus reached their workplace." But 47 percent of those polled reported that they would continue to ride the bus, pick up their prescriptions, do their grocery shopping, and engage in other public activities if they came down with H1N1 and their employer forced them to stay home.

Mansfield Communications called this discrepancy "alarming."

(Curiously, 52 percent of men polled said they were likely to head out into the world with swine flu, while just and 43 percent of women polled said as much.)

We could probably debate the potential dangers of this headline-grabbing flu and its likelihood of spreading throughout our workplaces for months on end. Ditto for the likelihood that significant portions of the workforce could be stuck home simultaneously, caring for kids home from school due to swine flu.

But rather than hedging their bets and hoping for the best, employers have another solution: They can take the necessary steps now to implement an emergency telework plan, which incidentally, will also come in handy if employees are snowed in again this December.

Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide." E-mail Michelle at mgoodman@nwjobs.com

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8 Comments

pat on September 27, 2009 5:45 AM | Reply

I work in a health insurance call center. Corporate has said, "stay home if you feel sick", while management where I am says " stay home if you feel sick...and you'll be put on warning".

Bad enough the health insurance for the employees of the health insurance company does not have sickness benefits, a high deductable and little incentive to go to a Dr. It's why they come in sick as dogs...they have no choice.

Schance on September 27, 2009 9:14 AM | Reply

My best friend works for a company with a "zero sick day" policy. Yes, that's right, even though he works in an office with co-workers who have compromised immune systems, if he takes even one sick day, it will be reflected in his annual review. So, if/when swine flu really hits, his entire office is going to get it, and potentially it's going to cost lives, because his company is too stupid to understand that what's good for the workers is also good for the company.

Helina on September 27, 2009 9:40 AM | Reply

Too bad that 69% do not work for the fed. We are told how to prevent and what to do. Unfortunately, those who do not have leave on the books become carriers.

Beetle Bailey on September 28, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply

Yes. Suck it up, get to sick call, get the shot. PT formation is tomorrow at 0600. See you then.

marc on September 29, 2009 12:57 PM | Reply

Goodness Schance---that is the recipe for epidemic. That office's productivity will be wiped out. Make sure your friend takes copious notes of management policy. That is insane. There is liability there, if what you say is factual. IMO.

E Smith on October 2, 2009 3:45 PM | Reply

My employer has instructed us to stay home if we feel sick. No Doctor's note needed, just STAY HOME!

The kicker is though that most of us used to be salaried and we got paid for sick days. This year I, and many of my coworkers, have been switched to hourly so a day at home sick is a day without pay.

kdaylyon1 on October 2, 2009 7:17 PM | Reply

Yep..."you're an RN and there are other sick people to take care of. Get a mask on and get in here."

ElephantStumps on October 3, 2009 10:00 PM | Reply

My employer just told 1/2 their employees that they would stop accruing vacation. What does that mean? People will report to work sick.

My employer dings you for every day you call in sick. So what does that mean? People will report to work sick.

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