Companies wary of what an infectious outbreak could do to their workforce and bottom line are revisiting contingency plans as the new coronavirus continues to spread.
Marie-Helene Primeau of the Montreal-based risk management company Premier Continuum says sheB次元官网网址檚 spent recent days fielding questions from several firms seeking guidance on what to do if the rapidly spreading illness that originated in China threatens the health of employees and customers.
B次元官网网址淓veryoneB次元官网网址檚 looking at their state of readiness,B次元官网网址� says Primeau, whose company provides training and advice to a range of firms including banks, insurance companies, government agencies and those in manufacturing.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e actively revisiting the plans, but theyB次元官网网址檙e not necessarily stockpiling masks.B次元官网网址�
Health officials in Canada have repeatedly stressed that the risk to public health remains low. Seven cases have been identified in Canada, while worldwide, the illness known as 2019-nCoV has sickened more than 37,000 people and killed more than 800, nearly all in China.
Nevertheless, Canadians are being urged to remain vigilant against infection, with medical experts reminding the public weB次元官网网址檙e still in the throes of flu season and that good hygiene is advised B次元官网网址� wash hands frequently, cough and sneeze into tissue or your upper sleeve, and donB次元官网网址檛 touch your face.
Disaster management expert Amin Mawani says workers and managers alike should take this time to combat misinformation, repeat hygiene tips, be clear on sick leave policies and prepare for the possibility of mass absenteeism.
If an outbreak hits, employers should encourage unwell workers to stay home, Mawani says, but a key step to mitigating an outbreakB次元官网网址檚 impact is to keep people from getting sick in the first place.
B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 buy traditional insurance in a sense, but you can prepare for it by spending some money planning for it and stockpiling certain things B次元官网网址� masks and whatever else you might need,B次元官网网址� says Mawani, academic director of the health industry management program at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto.
A possible outbreak has critics refocused on provincial sick day allowances in Ontario, where the Progressive Conservative government offers most workers three days of unpaid leave each year and allows bosses to demand a doctorB次元官网网址檚 note.
Health-care workers say that can make it hard for some to stay home when necessary, and if sick people work in high-risk settings B次元官网网址� such as food services, long-term care facilities or childcare spaces B次元官网网址� the impact can be significant.
B次元官网网址淎 lack of paid sick days results in children and adults transmitting infections at school and work, exacerbating contagion throughout the province,B次元官网网址� the group Decent Work and Health Network warn in an open letter to Premier Doug Ford.
Mawani agreed employers should consider whether theyB次元官网网址檙e prepared to ease sick day restrictions if the virus strikes staff, noting hardline policies also threaten morale and loyalty.
Workers should also consider coming up with their own protective measures, he adds.
B次元官网网址淚n some ways employees can take the initiative, they can say: B次元官网网址楲ook, I can easily do this at home,B次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址業 can do this on the weekend. Why do I need to come in tomorrow?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he says.
B次元官网网址淎nd employers should be willing to listen during this phase so even if (workers) donB次元官网网址檛 start working from home now (the company) can have plans ready.B次元官网网址�
John Yamniuk of the Toronto-based consulting firm DRI Canada says there are ways to limit person-to-person infection at the office, even those with open layouts, communal spaces, and shoulder-to-shoulder computer stations: Is there room to leave a vacant spot between workers? Is there an unused meeting room that can be transformed into an alternate work space?
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e in a call centre environment, (think about) providing extra cleaning services, providing individual headsets for folks so theyB次元官网网址檙e not sharing keyboards or things like that,B次元官网网址� adds Yamniuk, based in Calgary.
PrimeauB次元官网网址檚 advice includes making sure contact information for staff and partners are up-to-date.
She also encourages managers to run through B次元官网网址渁 tabletop exerciseB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� in which each person discusses their role during an emergency and all agree on how best to respond to various scenarios.
And donB次元官网网址檛 assume you can just rely on a temp agency if a lot of people call in sick, she adds, because you canB次元官网网址檛 guarantee availability or loyalty.
B次元官网网址淭emporary backup was something that was brought up when we were talking about the (H1N1) pandemic 10 years ago but the thing is that those individuals will also be sick as well,B次元官网网址� she says.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more (about) focusing on whatB次元官网网址檚 key. WhatB次元官网网址檚 urgent to perform? What are the critical activities, rather than calling upon a temp.B次元官网网址�
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Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press
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