[November 20, 2009] Flu could crimp business operations Tweet Nov 20, 2009 (Ventura County Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- THE SWINE FLU -- and just a bad regular flu -- could threaten business operations as much as it does individuals if a lot of people have to take time off because they or their family members become sick. But even with that knowledge, the general consensus is not enough businesses have plans in place to deal with increased absenteeism during the flu season. A check with local chambers of commerce found that few were hearing any concerns from members about what the swine flu could mean for their businesses. A poll from LogMeIn Inc., which provides remote computing devices, found nearly 60 percent of small- to medium-size businesses don't have plans in place for how to handle a flu outbreak among employees. Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas cautioned last month that the swine flu could put a crimp in business operations -- particularly for companies that don't have good sick leave policies and contingency plans in place. Challenger also warned that some companies could be harder hit because they already have shed jobs in the current economy, making it harder to make do when employees are absent. In Ventura County, some large firms have plans in place that would help them adjust workloads, whether because of an earthquake or a flu outbreak. Amgen Inc. in Thousand Oaks has a worldwide continuity plan for potential business interruptions, including the swine flu, but did not provide specifics for security reasons. The company to date has not been significantly affected by the flu season, said spokeswoman Sarah Rockwell. Farmers Insurance Group, which has operations in Simi Valley, has a pandemic plan that dates back to the avian flu scare several years ago, said Art Terry, business continuity manager. He said the company constantly reviews and adjusts its plans as needed for new threats, such as the swine flu. "We have fairly robust plans that ... help us react if necessary to help our people, support our employees and deliver our services to our customers," he said. The plan ranges from simple steps, such as making employees aware of hygienic measures they can take to avoid getting sick, to plans to keep work flowing, including allowing employees to work from home or "social distancing," he said. Social distancing includes physical separation of workers, creating a buffer of personal space or halting meetings, instead handling conferences and communications online. Large companies like Farmers have the added benefit of multiple locations. If illness breaks out at one location, work could be handled elsewhere, Terry said. The company also offers assistance specific to the flu. In September and October, it held health fairs with on-site vaccinations for the seasonal flu. Terry said most medical plans through the company also provide free preventative care, including vaccinations. For the county of Ventura, coordinating how to counter a pandemic includes some general guidelines, but also requires each agency to work out their own contingency plans to continue operations, said Chuck Pode, deputy executive officer and risk manager. That's because the work of nurses and physicians at the county hospital is going to require a different plan than what goes on at the auditors office, he said. As with Farmers Insurance, the county started making plans to deal with a pandemic several years ago. "When faced with the reality, we dust off the plans, look at them, make sure they're up to date and tune them up as needed," Pode said. Though concern about the swine flu has been heightened, it so far has been acting like seasonal flu. But the worry is always there that it could create higher absentee rates both among sick workers and those caring for sick family members, which leads to encouraging those who are sick to stay home and dealing with sick pay issues, Pode said. In general, the county is guided by the information coming out of the county's public health department. Decision-makers are encouraged to subscribe to public health updates and train employees on preventative measures, including sneezing into elbows and washing hands frequently, Pode said. Some companies have less-specific plans. At ISWest, an Internet service provider in Westlake Village, employees could work remotely from home if sick. CEO Drew Kaplan said the company has enough redundancy in place that it can handle day-to-day operations even if half the staff were out of the office. At Limoneira Co. in Santa Paula, part of the company's day-to-day planning involves adjusting and modifying production schedules, so the company would be able to manage shifts in workload and scheduling, said John Chamberlain, marketing manager. If the company is faced with a freeze or something that limits production, the department heads handle how to adjust to that, he said. An outbreak of flu would be something similar. Chamberlain added that the company has been lucky that it hasn't really been affected by the swine flu. To see more of the Ventura County Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.venturacountystar.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Ventura County Star, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]