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As this year’s extended flu season continues, aided by numerous cases of H1N1 (or “swine”) flu, employers are grappling with the best way to balance the personal health of their employees, the public health risks of the contagious illness, and their own business operation plans in the face of critical absences from the office.  The Washington Post yesterday highlights some of the issues employers are facing during flu season, as well as some proposed solutions.

Workplace associations, many of whom are themselves facing this problem, have created a number of resources from a variety of perspectives to help all employers adapt to this environment.  The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has created an “H1N1 (Swine) Flu Resources” page that allows members to receive and read up-to-date information on the disease.  Additionally, it provides a community for employers to share their thoughts on how to handle flu season and an email address for them to ask questions or share solutions to staffing issues.  SHRM also recently released “Doing Business During an Influenza Pandemic” a guide for businesses of all sizes to help cope with widespread flu outbreaks.

A major concern for epidemiologists are childcare facilities and schools, as germs and virus spread quickly in areas with high concentrations of children.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has an “H1N1 Swine Flu Information” website that covers not only medical facts about the disease, but resources and links for how to prevent the spread of H1N1 in the workplace and in workplaces with children.  For colleges and universities, the American Council on Education has created a Pandemic Flu Preparedness Resource while the National Association of College and University Attorneys has an updated Disaster Preparedness and Response page.

Does your association have a plan in place for H1N1 illness among staff?

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