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Employers stay alert, prepare for flu outbreak
by: KYLE ARNOLD World Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
5/5/2009 5:22:13 AM
Swine flu had yet to reach Oklahoma by Monday, but Tulsa-area businesses have been preparing for days to deal with an outbreak.
Crews at One Williams Center downtown have been scrubbing handrails and other surfaces in public spaces to stymie the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 300 cases of swine flu in the United States as of Monday, with one death in Texas. Thirty-six states have reported at least one case.
Businesses are taking steps themselves to make sure they aren't sidelined by the virus.
"We sent out a couple of messages to employees last week saying that we're monitoring the situation and gave some reminders about basic hygiene and about staying home from work if you don't feel well," said Jeff Pounds, a spokesman for Williams Cos. Inc.
The Tulsa-based company with energy operations spanning multiple states has not seen any disruption in business, and its management and other employees would like to keep it that way.
But the flu has caused trouble elsewhere. The H1N1 influenza has been confirmed in the neighboring states of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.
In Mexico, many businesses in infected areas took Monday off and stretched the May 5 holiday, Cinco de Mayo, into a four-day weekend at the urging of the federal government.
Although the initial hysteria has calmed somewhat in the United States, many businesses are reminded that commerce can be easily derailed by unforeseen disease and disaster, said Dana Fowble, the vice president of federation and grass-roots development for the State Chamber of Oklahoma.
"This kind of thing can be a real reminder for businesses to refresh their plans for pandemics or disasters or anything else that can disrupt business," Fowble said.
The State Chamber is urging companies to develop and update contingency plans for how to operate with a severely diminished work force, and also to update emergency files. The organization's Web site ? at tulsaworld.com/statechamberflu ? contains information to help businesses get ready.
"A lot of companies don't even have a list with their employees' home numbers," Fowble said. "Some don't have policies about what to do with employees who don't have any sick leave."
Companies that have not done so should also be checking with the CDC and other government agencies for the latest tips on prevention, Fowble said.
Don Mann, the human resources director for the Tulsa law firm GableGotwals, said it started gathering information about the flu outbreak early last week.
"The most important thing to do is communicate, especially since as of today we still have no reported cases," Mann said Monday. "Communicate to employees what they should do if they think they might be infected and how that works with sick leave, FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), etc."
To prevent disruptions, Mann said, companies should formulate work-from-home policies for employees who might be showing symptoms but are still well enough to work.
Mann also recommends employing germ-friendly practices such as providing extra hand sanitizer and tissues.
"As employers plan for a pandemic, they face competing and complicated legal issues," Mann said. "Employers are legally obligated to provide a safe workplace and may be liable if their infected employees spread the disease."
Bank of Oklahoma is reminding employees to call in sick if they are showing flu symptoms, its spokesman Jesse Boudiette said.
"We advise our employees to stay home if they are ill in any way, including flu," Boudiette said. "Our sick leave policy is intended to help employees with illness recover and also to prevent other employees from becoming sick."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contingency plans
In the event of a pandemic, natural disaster or other emergency, the U.S. Small Business Administration advises businesses to have contingency plans in the following areas:
1. employee emergency contact
2. Large numbers of absences
3. Sick leave, family leave plans
4. Telecommunications disruptions
5. energy shortages
6. Transportation problems
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=48&articleid=20090505_46_E1_Photoi832822
by: KYLE ARNOLD World Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
5/5/2009 5:22:13 AM
Swine flu had yet to reach Oklahoma by Monday, but Tulsa-area businesses have been preparing for days to deal with an outbreak.
Crews at One Williams Center downtown have been scrubbing handrails and other surfaces in public spaces to stymie the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 300 cases of swine flu in the United States as of Monday, with one death in Texas. Thirty-six states have reported at least one case.
Businesses are taking steps themselves to make sure they aren't sidelined by the virus.
"We sent out a couple of messages to employees last week saying that we're monitoring the situation and gave some reminders about basic hygiene and about staying home from work if you don't feel well," said Jeff Pounds, a spokesman for Williams Cos. Inc.
The Tulsa-based company with energy operations spanning multiple states has not seen any disruption in business, and its management and other employees would like to keep it that way.
But the flu has caused trouble elsewhere. The H1N1 influenza has been confirmed in the neighboring states of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.
In Mexico, many businesses in infected areas took Monday off and stretched the May 5 holiday, Cinco de Mayo, into a four-day weekend at the urging of the federal government.
Although the initial hysteria has calmed somewhat in the United States, many businesses are reminded that commerce can be easily derailed by unforeseen disease and disaster, said Dana Fowble, the vice president of federation and grass-roots development for the State Chamber of Oklahoma.
"This kind of thing can be a real reminder for businesses to refresh their plans for pandemics or disasters or anything else that can disrupt business," Fowble said.
The State Chamber is urging companies to develop and update contingency plans for how to operate with a severely diminished work force, and also to update emergency files. The organization's Web site ? at tulsaworld.com/statechamberflu ? contains information to help businesses get ready.
"A lot of companies don't even have a list with their employees' home numbers," Fowble said. "Some don't have policies about what to do with employees who don't have any sick leave."
Companies that have not done so should also be checking with the CDC and other government agencies for the latest tips on prevention, Fowble said.
Don Mann, the human resources director for the Tulsa law firm GableGotwals, said it started gathering information about the flu outbreak early last week.
"The most important thing to do is communicate, especially since as of today we still have no reported cases," Mann said Monday. "Communicate to employees what they should do if they think they might be infected and how that works with sick leave, FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), etc."
To prevent disruptions, Mann said, companies should formulate work-from-home policies for employees who might be showing symptoms but are still well enough to work.
Mann also recommends employing germ-friendly practices such as providing extra hand sanitizer and tissues.
"As employers plan for a pandemic, they face competing and complicated legal issues," Mann said. "Employers are legally obligated to provide a safe workplace and may be liable if their infected employees spread the disease."
Bank of Oklahoma is reminding employees to call in sick if they are showing flu symptoms, its spokesman Jesse Boudiette said.
"We advise our employees to stay home if they are ill in any way, including flu," Boudiette said. "Our sick leave policy is intended to help employees with illness recover and also to prevent other employees from becoming sick."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contingency plans
In the event of a pandemic, natural disaster or other emergency, the U.S. Small Business Administration advises businesses to have contingency plans in the following areas:
1. employee emergency contact
2. Large numbers of absences
3. Sick leave, family leave plans
4. Telecommunications disruptions
5. energy shortages
6. Transportation problems
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=48&articleid=20090505_46_E1_Photoi832822