Pandemic Planning Business Planning and Communications Nancy Hatch Woodward Copyright 2009, Nancy Hatch Woodward

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Business foresees problems 84 percent concerned it will negatively affect business. Harvard Opinion Research Program, Harvard School of Public Health, July 16- August 12, 2009.

3 Could avoid having severe operational problems with 20% of workforce absent for 2 Weeks Ability to Avoid Severe Operational Problems from Reduced Workforce for 2 Weeks Comparison by Size of Firm Could avoid having severe operational problems with 30% of workforce absent for 2 Weeks Could avoid having severe operational problems with 50% of workforce absent for 2 Weeks

4 Harvard Opinion Research Program, Harvard School of Public Health, July 16-August 12, Ability to Avoid Severe Operational Problems from Reduced Workforce for 1 Month Comparison by Size of Firm Could avoid having severe operational problems with 20% of workforce absent for 1 month Could avoid having severe operational problems with 30% of workforce absent for 1 month Could avoid having severe operational problems with 50% of workforce absent for 1 month

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright What Can We Expect?  Infections, hospitalizations, deaths

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Characteris tic Moderate (1958/68- like) Swine Flu Predictions* Severe (1918-like) Illness90 million (30% population) 165 million (50% population) 90 million (30% population) Outpatient medical care 45 million (50% of those ill) n/a 45 million (50% of those ill) Hospitaliza tion 865, million9,900,000 ICU care128,750 n/a1,485,000 Mechanical ventilation 64,875 n/a 745,000 Deaths209,00030,000 – 90,0001,903,000 Source: PandemicFlu.gov. Estimates based on extrapolation from past pandemics in the United States. * White House predictions, Aug

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright What Can We Expect?  Absenteeism up to 40 percent

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright What Can We Expect?  Absenteeism up to 40 percent --Employees ill

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright What Can We Expect?  Absenteeism up to 40 percent --Employees ill --Family members ill

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright What Can We Expect?  Absenteeism up to 40 percent --Employees ill --Family members ill --Possible school closings

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright What Can We Expect?  Absenteeism up to 40 percent --Employees ill --Family members ill --Possible school closings --Deaths in families

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright What Can We Expect?  Absenteeism up to 40 percent --Employees ill --Family members ill --Possible school closings --Deaths in families --People afraid to come to work

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright What Can We Expect?  Absenteeism up to 40 percent --Employees ill --Family members ill --Possible school closings --Deaths in families --People afraid to come to work --Rolling absences

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright What’s HR to do? Communicate

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright What’s HR to do?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions Need to hear from you

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions Need to hear from you Educating is key

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions Need to hear from you Educating is key Know it’s about “me”

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions Need to hear from you Educating is key Know it’s about “me” Build trust

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions Need to hear from you Educating is key Know it’s about “me” Build trust Provide dedicated avenue of communication

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  What is all this hype about a pandemic?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  What is all this hype about a pandemic?  How should I protect myself and my family?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Center for Disease Control: World Health Association: American Psychological Assoc.

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  What is all this hype about a pandemic?  How should I protect myself and my family?  What is the company planning to do to protect us and our jobs?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  What is all this hype about a pandemic?  How should I protect myself and my family?  What is the company planning to do to protect us and our jobs?  Will I have to come to work or can I work at home?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  What is all this hype about a pandemic?  What is the company planning to do to protect us and our jobs?  How should I protect my family?  Will I have to come to work or can I work at home?  What is my employer planning for expats and business travelers?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  Will our organization be open during a pandemic?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  Will our organization be open during a pandemic?  What will trigger the plan and how will I know?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  Will our organization be open during a pandemic?  What will trigger the plan and how will I know?  Will my job be needed during a pandemic?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  Will our organization be open during a pandemic?  What will trigger the plan and how will I know?  Will my job be needed during a pandemic?  What if I can’t come to work?

32 Harvard Opinion Research Program, Harvard School of Public Health, July 16-August 12, Current Leave Policy For School Closure: Comparison by Size of Firm % saying CURRENTLY has policy that would allow employees to take time off to care for children if schools/daycares closed due to special circumstances % offering ANY leave for school closure % offering PAID leave for school closure

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Legal issues FMLA ADA Workers’ Comp Wage & Labor Global considerations

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  Will our organization be open during a pandemic?  What will trigger the plan and how will I know?  Will my job be needed during a pandemic?  What if I can’t come to work?  If I’m at work, what precautions are my employer taking to protect my health?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Legal & Privacy concerns Stop illness at the door --Taking temperatures? --Checking symptoms? --Asking employees about themselves/family members? --Quarantine rooms?

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Legal & Privacy concerns Using in-house medical personnel Informing contacts of exposure NLRB Whistleblowing protection

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Your Employees Have Questions  Will our organization be open during a pandemic?  What will trigger the plan and how will I know?  Will my job be needed during a pandemic?  What if I can’t come to work?  If I’m at work, what precautions is my employer taking to protect my health?  How will I know when I can return to work?

38 Harvard Opinion Research Program, Harvard School of Public Health, July 16-August 12, % of total that say they CURRENTLY require doctor’s note to return to work % of those that require a doctor’s note to return to work that say they would no longer require a doctor’s note IN A SERIOUS OUTBREAK Doctor’s Note to Return to Work After Contagious Illness: Current Policy and In a Serious Outbreak Comparison by Size of Firm

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Other issues that may affect your employees: Electricity, water, and other utilities could be disrupted. Food at work – restaurants closed, onsite cafeterias closed. Limited public transportation Refuse pickup

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Stockpiling -- Domestically and Globally Vaccines and anti-virals General medical supplies Gloves/masks Food/water

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Security – Lessons from Katrina Stockpiling/scarcities Closed borders/cancelled transportation Police and Reserves reductions Healthcare shortages

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright The Aftermath

Pandemic Planning Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications Copyright Nancy Hatch Woodward Communications (423)