NEWS & EVENTS

The news that staff could be allowed to self-certify sick leave for two weeks because of swine flu will cause concern amongst the regions employers, but they must start to make plans for their business.

That is the advice of  Peterborough based lawyers Roythorne Christmas, who were commenting on the latest proposals being put forward by the government to tackle the swine flu pandemic, which has so far infected just over seven and a half thousand people and caused seven deaths.

Commenting on the proposals, Phil Cookson said

As the changes will be introduced as an emergency measure, it is not likely that employers will be consulted and effectively they could be introduced without notice.  There is concern amongst some employers that employees may abuse the system and take longer off than they effectively need, but on the other hand the last thing any employer needs in the workplace is an ill employee amongst healthy colleagues.

Phil said that employers should be making plans for the spread of the virus which, according to some estimates could cost the Uk economy up to £1.5 billion.

He said employers should prepare for the worst and consider what would happen if, for example, half of their staff did not turn up for work one day.  Emergency planning is something which many businesses fail to undertake properly, but with a little forward thinking such as considering how work would be organised and prioritised, the impact of such a disaster can be contained.