sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
Many employers still unprepared for managing HR issues related to H1N1, Mercer survey finds
United States
New York , 10 June 2009
<!-- retrieve the content body --> Approximately two in five employers (41 percent) do not have a human resources (HR) policy in place for health-related emergencies, yet many acknowledge they have employees in areas where cases of Influenza A (H1N1) or “swine flu” have been confirmed, according to a new Mercer snapshot survey.
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Mercer’s survey provides an understanding of how organizations are reacting to the spread of the virus and what plans and procedures are being implemented. More than half (53 percent) of the employers surveyed were considering whether to create back-up and contingency plans in response to the outbreak. Others said they planned to restrict or cancel business travel (43 percent) or allow employees to work at home (41 percent). Other steps include voluntary quarantine for employees exposed to risk (27 percent), enforced quarantine on employees judged at risk (24 percent), canceling meetings/conferences (21 percent), screening staff/visitors returning from travel (20 percent), requiring medical check-ups (12 percent) and reviewing health or insurance plans (10 percent). One-fourth (24 percent) indicated they were taking no special actions. (See Figure 1)
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Mercer’s survey, which includes more than 400 mid-size and large organizations worldwide, was conducted from 30 April to 11 May and includes responses from employers located in the US, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Hong Kong, Brazil, Vietnam, Switzerland, China, Argentina, South Korea, Singapore, the Russian Federation, the Philippines and Belgium.
http://www.mercer.com/summary.htm?idContent=1349530
United States
New York , 10 June 2009
<!-- retrieve the content body --> Approximately two in five employers (41 percent) do not have a human resources (HR) policy in place for health-related emergencies, yet many acknowledge they have employees in areas where cases of Influenza A (H1N1) or “swine flu” have been confirmed, according to a new Mercer snapshot survey.
snip
Mercer’s survey provides an understanding of how organizations are reacting to the spread of the virus and what plans and procedures are being implemented. More than half (53 percent) of the employers surveyed were considering whether to create back-up and contingency plans in response to the outbreak. Others said they planned to restrict or cancel business travel (43 percent) or allow employees to work at home (41 percent). Other steps include voluntary quarantine for employees exposed to risk (27 percent), enforced quarantine on employees judged at risk (24 percent), canceling meetings/conferences (21 percent), screening staff/visitors returning from travel (20 percent), requiring medical check-ups (12 percent) and reviewing health or insurance plans (10 percent). One-fourth (24 percent) indicated they were taking no special actions. (See Figure 1)
snip
Mercer’s survey, which includes more than 400 mid-size and large organizations worldwide, was conducted from 30 April to 11 May and includes responses from employers located in the US, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Hong Kong, Brazil, Vietnam, Switzerland, China, Argentina, South Korea, Singapore, the Russian Federation, the Philippines and Belgium.
http://www.mercer.com/summary.htm?idContent=1349530