Canadian business not prepared for pandemic

Canadian organizations may be concerned about a future pandemic outbreak, but they aren’t prepared for one, according to the findings of a Conference Board of Canada survey.
The survey was released to coincide with the launch of a new Pandemic Preparedness Working Group.
Almost 80% of the 75 organizations responding to the survey are concerned about the impact of a pandemic on their organization, but only 4% have completed a preparedness plan.
More than 40% of the survey respondents have not considered how they will communicate with employees during a pandemic outbreak.
“A majority of the organizations surveyed are worried about the threat of a pandemic, but very few are ready to cope with one right now,” said Prem Benimadhu, vice president of organizational performance at the conference board. “Only a handful of respondents have carefully considered how a pandemic might affect day-to-day operations.”
Respondent organizations anticipate that, on average, just over one-third of their workforce could be absent during a pandemic outbreak. However, most respondents have not yet worked out key details, such as dealing with quarantined employees, compensating individuals covering for absent colleagues, and responding to employee refusals to work in a potentially-unsafe environment.
The Conference Board briefing outlines measures to help organizations take action, including:
Audit the preparedness of your organization and those in your supply chain.
Develop multiple scenarios for absenteeism rates that account for best- and worst-case scenarios.
Look at absenteeism from every angle – These include pay and benefits, insurance costs, and reporting of absenteeism by managers.
Invest in prevention – Educate employees about the spread of viruses (87 per cent of respondents are doing so).
Encourage sick employees to stay home. Institute office guidelines to stave off widespread infection within your workplace.
Communicate with employees – Employees will look to their employers for guidance during an outbreak.
The briefing, A State of Unpreparedness: Canadian Organizations’ Readiness for a Pandemic, is available at www.e-library.ca.