Companies should take practical steps to minimise the impact of any potential bird flu pandemic on their business, analysts have warned.
Organisations should not wait until an outbreak strikes to take action, since they might have very little time to prepare, according to IT research firm Gartner.
A pandemic could limit travel, disrupt supply chains and hit staff attendance, causing an overall business slowdown. But simple preparation would help employers respond quickly and effectively.
Gartner suggests companies take the following steps to protect their operations in the event of a pandemic:
- Keep staff informed
- Assess contingency plans
- Put someone in charge
- Help staff work from home
- Establish an online presence
