Companies, Contingency Plan, Truancy Before The Swine Flu Pandemic

Very serious is the crisis that has arisen with regard to health, product type A influenza that originated as is known from Mexico, to the extent that it is on level 5 alert (the second highest), has reached other countries like the U.S., some from Europe, Latin America, Central America, China. Since then alarm the deaths, this has caused pollution and made governments pay attention to its development in order to take preventive precautions to avoid death, massive pollution., As many have done and they have succeeded. The fact that in this reality, with respect to the incidence of companies is very interesting to study wharton.universia.net analysis presented in your newsletter Knowledge @ Wharton, where they say, that 73% of companies recognized around the world have no contingency plan for a pandemic flu, according to Marsh's risk consulting. In a year without mishaps, companies lose about 210 million euros annually because of absenteeism, a figure that could reach multiplied by three in a pandemic. If this were to continue much further in time, absenteeism could exceed 50% of the workforce.

Juan García Gay, Business Continuity Consulting Marsh explained that the flu such as type A, which is on level 5 alert (the second highest), has a double impact, as it not only triggers absenteeism, but also has a psychological effect on the staff of the company, which has spread fear and may even experience a tragedy in their family. "We found very few companies are adequately prepared to protect its staff and to ensure continuity of operations during a pandemic?, Gay García explains, adding:" What we warned in Davos and we say now: we have a long-term problem. During the 2006 crisis, when the pandemic threat was imminent, some companies were interested in improving their preparedness for such events. However, at the time the problem was now missing, many forgot that they are unprepared for the risk of a pandemic?.

No doubt it is very true that many companies must have suffered in their productivity, efficiency to absenteeism, to a serious threat, as in the case of Mexico where the crisis deepened further, That should force management, human resources to have contingency plans to deal with these situations not to suffer losses on their profits, good management should provide the facts and not expected to be present but are very rare, but can happen as it actually occurred, this would prevents the deterioration in the company's effective operation, productivity. Very interesting also written notes, as expressed García Gay, not trying to be alarmist, but be prepared for situations that, although unlikely to have been repeated three times in the last century. The Spanish flu of 1918 claimed about 30 million deaths, and similar pandemics were repeated in 1957 and 1968, although mortality was ten times lower. The crisis of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) was a first warning of the risk of global contagion. This episode was a cost of 40,000 million dollars in the economies of Asia Pacific, where 8,000 people were infected.

In case of a true pandemic, this is the number of people who become infected every hour. Michel-Kerjan is of the opinion that there has been "an acceleration of major disasters?, As a financial crisis, problems with the supply of energy or food, pandemics, terrorism or natural disasters. With figures adjusted for inflation, the 20 most costly disasters between 1970 and 2007 occurred after 1987, and half of them after 2001. Add the Bulletin, which as indicated by the expert Marsh. "There is a crisis and we must take it seriously?. But what if you have missed forecast and confirmed the pandemic? "There's still time to stop and reflect?, Although we can not delay the creation of a crisis committee and act in parallel, boosting measures that" are not catastrophic, but realistic?. In Mexico, for example, you run out of masks and antivirals demand has soared. García Gay is not in favor of collecting medical equipment without assessing the real needs, for example, how many people can work from home and what the staff needed to maintain core activities. Large companies that have resources and qualified personnel can store from antiviral to disinfectants, while other firms are unable to reach agreements with laboratories and healthcare providers to serve them preferentially or even keep them from acquiring the material.

Review the travel policy, to meet the WHO recommendations or find out if the insurance company covers these contingencies are some of the recommendations of experts. Very interesting and valuable contribution when indicated, the key issues, according to Marsh, all companies should consider are: To review the travel policy of the company, its policies on health and health policies (medical checks to employees), and the number of available antivirals and other medical care, such as antibacterial disinfectants, masks and other materials. Be clear if there are any recommended interpersonal distance and other measures to help minimize the spread of HIV in the workplace. Review current methods for informing employees of the pandemic threat and the current business situation, whether in the office or working from home. In population centers, be sure that the plans provide that staff can work from home whenever possible and appropriate. Consider whether there are key processes that should be kept in case of a pandemic, such as call centers, medical services and other services the company vital and essential.

Review the structure needed to effectively manage a crisis, and review how to implement multiple business continuity plans, how to cope in the event of an increase in the number of employees who have to work from home and how to react to important changes in our supply chain and market. Ensure that plans for crisis management and business continuity include pandemic scenarios and exercises to test the plan as posible.Además the collection of medical equipment and review processes, contingency plans must take into account the mechanisms communication, both with employees and with the Health Authorities. Sara Blázquez, Director General and Director of Crisis communications agency Burson-Marsteller, said that "working with public health agencies ensures that the public response chain to work properly. The Spanish Health Ministry has a National Plan for Preparedness and Response to an Influenza Pandemic, and activated, which provides health care coverage for those infected?. Either way, he adds, "every company must add to the national plan their own policy response mechanism to help themselves avoid infection and minimize the consequences of the epidemic?.

* Source: Journal of Knowledge @ Wharton. wharton@universia.net