NZ - Employers should be prepared to take responsibility for the costs of workplace exposure

[Sally Furniss]

Employers raise concerns on swine flu readiness

Press Release: Employers and Manufacturers Association Northern

Media statement Thursday, June 4, 2009

Employers raise concerns on swine flu readiness

More employers are inquiring about swine flu preparedness following the news it might eventually affect half the population, said Paul Jarvie, Manager of health & Safety at the Employers & Manufacturers Association Northern

"We are keeping a watch twice daily on the World Health Organisation and Ministry of Health websites to monitor developments," he said.

"At this stage swine flu has had a negligible impact on business, though international travel is undoubtedly affected.

"So far the known cases in New Zealand have recovered reasonably quickly and their sickness has been mild.

"However, employers need to be aware of the impact that virus sicknesses can have on their staff, and they should be monitoring staff returning from overseas, especially Australia where the swine flu has had a greater initial impact.

"They should also make sure their staff are aware they should always wash their hands and use tissues when sneezing and coughing, and the symptoms to watch out for.

"The flu's impact could increase employers need to plan for sickness absenteeism. For example, they should review sickness and holiday leave entitlements, provide information to staff, and plan to maintain critical business functions in the event of an epidemic.

"We assisted EMA members prepare for maintaining critical activities during the bird flu scare four years back, and this is a good time to review those plans.

"At that time the government passed laws to empower procedures that would restrict the spread of bird flu. Public transport could be halted and schools closed if required, and income support was considered for workers unable to go to work whose paid leave entitlements had been fully used.

"A statement from the government refreshing public knowledge on these things would be helpful."

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0906/S00097.htm

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ - Employers inquiring about swine flu preparedness

Re: NZ - Employers inquiring about swine flu preparedness

Updated at 1:19pm on 9 June 2009

The Northern Employers & Manufacturers Association says the swine flu situation in Australia is becoming increasingly alarming.

Queensland's chief health officer says Australia now has more than 1500 confirmed cases of swine flu. More than 1000 of them are in Victoria.

Seventeen cases have been confirmed to date in New Zealand and the Government has now given health officials powers to keep people away from work or school. New regulations took effect on Monday.

The EMA says it is monitoring the Australian situation very closely. If widespread quarantine measures need to be implemented, the association says they would hurt employers and compound the recession.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade won't say whether its travel advisory to Australia will change, as a result of recent swine flu developments there.

The advisory currently says there is some risk to health in Australia due to a significant number of Influenza A cases and advises caution.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/06/09/1245b59ebff6

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ - Employers inquiring about swine flu preparedness

Re: NZ - Employers inquiring about swine flu preparedness

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Employers should pay
Meanwhile, the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) says employers should be prepared to take responsibility for the costs of workplace exposure to H1N1 flu after a predicted increase in cases.


EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says quarantine comes with significant costs to workers and those costs should be met by their employers if the exposure was work-related.


"There can be a significant cost to a worker when they are quarantined, ranging from loss of allowances to not being able to work their second job and we believe that cost should be paid by the employer if the quarantine is the result of workplace exposure," Little said.


"We are currently following up on four cases in which EPMU members have been quarantined following workplace exposure and are not being properly compensated for the losses they are incurring as a result."


http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/h1n1-flu-could-hit-half-nz-s-population-2774292

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: NZ - Employers should be prepared to take responsibility for the costs of workplace exposure

"There can be a significant cost to a worker when they are quarantined, ranging from loss of allowances to not being able to work their second job and we believe that cost should be paid by the employer if the quarantine is the result of workplace exposure," Little said.

That may be a tough sell, especially in cases where the employer must pay someone else to do the work of the ill person. That would double their labor costs for each ill position. If it affects half the workforce, it's just added an overall 25% increase in labor expense. This may not be feasible for some industries. Utilizing some public funding for this purpose may work better.

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[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ - Businesses are starting to look at ways they can operate remotely as swine flu threatens to affect their staffing levels

Re: NZ - Businesses are starting to look at ways they can operate remotely as swine flu threatens to affect their staffing levels

Businesses are starting to look at ways they can operate remotely as swine flu threatens to affect their staffing levels

10 June 2009

Employers are looking at ways their businesses can operate remotely in the face of a possible swine flu epidemic.

There are 19 confirmed cases of the virus in New Zealand and Medical Officers of Health now have legal powers to enforce quarantines and exclude children and teachers from schools. Health officials believe up to one in three people will get the virus and that will cause enormous disruption for business.

Employment and Manufacturers Association spokesman Paul Jarvis says having large numbers of people off work either because they are sick or are looking after children who are sick, will just compound the current financial squeeze. He says if someone is away from what is already a lean, mean business, the ability to produce products and services is threatened.

Mr Jarvis says employers are not having to change the way they do business in a practical sense yet, but a lot of planning is going on. He says employers are looking at their key tasks and asking whether there are ways they can be done remotely and whether people can work at home.

Mr Jarvis says many employers are also taking stock of what annual and sick leave their workers have up their sleeves, in case it is needed. He says on a positive note, it appears the virus itself is fairly mild so people will still be able to come back to work (edited to add ..after recovering from flu).

http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=101196&fm=newsmain,nrhl

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: NZ - Employers should be prepared to take responsibility for the costs of workplace exposure

CTU to meet health officials over influenza A-H1N1
Monday, 15 June 2009, 9:57 am
Press Release: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

CTU media release
15 June 2009

CTU to meet health officials over influenza A-H1N1

The CTU will meet Government officials and DHBs today and tomorrow amid growing concerns about the impact of Influenza A-H1N1.

Peter Conway, CTU Secretary, said: ?A high level of co-operation is required. Unions have concerns about the health of workers and their families as well as the impact on employment and incomes at a time when the economy is already in a recession.?
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?We have also had discussions in the last week with the Ministry of Health and the Labour Department and we have provided initial advice to unions on a range of relevant issues including income protection for workers.?

Conway said that although most employers have been very good in terms of providing both information and assurances to workers, the CTU has had reports of some employers being less co-operative.

?The CTU believes it is in everybody?s interest that transmission of the virus is slowed, although we accept that at some stage health advice may switch to mitigation if the virus has spread widely. It will be important for the Government agencies to regularly brief employer and union bodies.?

Conway said that although many workers have sick leave entitlements and are also paid if required to stay off work in these circumstances even if they are not sick, there is a need for the Government to consider special protection beyond emergency benefits for some workers.

He added: ?Unions are looking for clear information and advice, co-operation to minimise the health risks for workers, and income protection for workers if they are off work.?

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0906/S00073.htm