Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Occupational HealthLatest NewsWellbeing

UK employers totally unprepared for flu pandemic

by dan thomas 12 Jan 2006
by dan thomas 12 Jan 2006

Employers are still failing to recognise the financial blow that bird flu could have on their business, and are not making contingency plans quickly enough, experts have warned.

HSBC this week said it is putting in contingency plans based on worst case scenario estimates that up to half of its global staff could fall ill or be absent from work if a bird flu pandemic hits.

And the UN warned the threat to Europe is real and growing, after cases emerged in Turkey.

But most UK employers are underestimating or unconcerned about the potential impact of the virus, which is a growing threat, according to HR consultancy Croner.

Richard Smith, employment services director at Croner, said: “Businesses should evaluate all real and perceived risks to their organisation. While it may be more front of mind to prepare for other threats, such as terrorism, a pandemic could cause even greater disruption.”

Croner is advising employers to put a contingency plan in place with contribution from HR, health and safety and senior management personnel.

The plan may include a simple information bulletin to employees to keep them informed of where they can travel to and where to avoid, or providing suitable equipment for employees to continue to work from home.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“Employers can’t afford to wait and see to what extent this virus might strike. It’s only when they sit down and analyse the impact of a bird flu pandemic that they will begin to realise the potentially devastating effect it could have on their business. If the virus hits, there’ll be no time for planning,” Smith said.

Croner is offering the following guidelines for employers:



  • Incorporate a contingency plan into overall business strategy
  • Inform and consult employees to make them aware a plan exists and what to do if the pandemic reaches the UK
  • Identify and keep records of skills and capabilities of the entire workforce so that employees may be redeployed into other roles if necessary
  • Evaluate real and perceived risks by monitoring the spread of bird flu
  • Look at alternative methods of communication, including web casting and video conferencing
  • Reconsider policies on flexible working and home working.

dan thomas

previous post
School seeks headteacher/recruiter
next post
Met Police in dock over alleged racism at training centre

You may also like

Thousands of jobs to be created in nuclear...

15 Sep 2025

A third of UK employers use ‘bossware’ to...

15 Sep 2025

Employment lawyers voice AI fears on tribunal claims

15 Sep 2025

Day one rights to make 86% more cautious...

14 Sep 2025

Barclays Bank boss warns Reeves over public sector...

12 Sep 2025

MPs probe Asda financial links with workplace lender

12 Sep 2025

Companies named for failing to report gender pay...

12 Sep 2025

Business rates rises could put 100k retail jobs...

12 Sep 2025

How to steer EDI through a ‘permacrisis’

12 Sep 2025

Immigration: ‘Hyundai factory raid is threat to US...

12 Sep 2025

  • Workplace health benefits need to be simplified SPONSORED | Long-term sickness...Read more
  • Work smart – stay well: Avoid unnecessary pain with centred ergonomics SPONSORED | If you often notice...Read more
  • Elevate your L&D strategy at the World of Learning 2025 SPONSORED | This October...Read more
  • How to employ a global workforce from the UK (webinar) WEBINAR | With an unpredictable...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits Live
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise