Threat of Flu Pandemic Means Employers Must Geographically Distribute Workers
Distributed Work Programs Must Be In Place Before Emergencies Strike
WINNIPEG, June 7 /CNW/ - With worker absenteeism expected to exceed
40 per cent for weeks or months should a pandemic like bird flu strike,
Canadian governments and corporations must begin to geographically distribute
their workforces now, a pandemic preparations conference has heard.
"There's an old saying that when you hear thunder it is too late to build
an ark," Distributed Work expert George Horhota today told the International
Centre for Infectious Diseases' National Business Summit on Pandemic
Preparedness, Mitigation and Recovery in Winnipeg.
Distributed Work utilizes technology to enable employees to get out of
only working from corporate and government offices and work from various
locations, including the home, community offices in their neighborhoods,
client offices, airports, even coffee shops.
If a pandemic strikes "people will be looking after sick loved ones or
simply afraid to come into the office for fear of infection," Mr. Horhota
said. They will be "unable or unwilling to travel or congregate in high-risk
Metropolitan areas."
The federal government in the United States is far ahead of Ottawa, said
Mr. Horhota, adding that because of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks,
Americans have been far more vigilant with their emergency preparations.
He cites a number of U.S. laws, tax incentives and government projects
that spur Distributed Work programs in government and corporations south of
the border.
"The best way to describe the role of our federal government in
Distributed Work is: 'Oh, Canada'," he said. "An interesting thing happened
when the U.S. started embracing Distributed Work for emergency preparedness
reasons: corporations and governments began saving money...between $4,000 and
$5,000 per year per employee."
Mr. Horhota is a veteran Canadian telecommunications executive who has
written and spoken across North America about Distributed Work. He co-founded
a company called SuiteWorks with John Cameron that operates satellite
community offices in communities where commuters live.
Distributed Work Programs Must Be In Place Before Emergencies Strike
WINNIPEG, June 7 /CNW/ - With worker absenteeism expected to exceed
40 per cent for weeks or months should a pandemic like bird flu strike,
Canadian governments and corporations must begin to geographically distribute
their workforces now, a pandemic preparations conference has heard.
"There's an old saying that when you hear thunder it is too late to build
an ark," Distributed Work expert George Horhota today told the International
Centre for Infectious Diseases' National Business Summit on Pandemic
Preparedness, Mitigation and Recovery in Winnipeg.
Distributed Work utilizes technology to enable employees to get out of
only working from corporate and government offices and work from various
locations, including the home, community offices in their neighborhoods,
client offices, airports, even coffee shops.
If a pandemic strikes "people will be looking after sick loved ones or
simply afraid to come into the office for fear of infection," Mr. Horhota
said. They will be "unable or unwilling to travel or congregate in high-risk
Metropolitan areas."
The federal government in the United States is far ahead of Ottawa, said
Mr. Horhota, adding that because of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks,
Americans have been far more vigilant with their emergency preparations.
He cites a number of U.S. laws, tax incentives and government projects
that spur Distributed Work programs in government and corporations south of
the border.
"The best way to describe the role of our federal government in
Distributed Work is: 'Oh, Canada'," he said. "An interesting thing happened
when the U.S. started embracing Distributed Work for emergency preparedness
reasons: corporations and governments began saving money...between $4,000 and
$5,000 per year per employee."
Mr. Horhota is a veteran Canadian telecommunications executive who has
written and spoken across North America about Distributed Work. He co-founded
a company called SuiteWorks with John Cameron that operates satellite
community offices in communities where commuters live.