Pandemic outbreaks — North Carolina

Employers play a key role in protecting the health and safety of their employees during a pandemic outbreak. A “pandemic” is a global epidemic, such as:

1. Spanish Flu (1918)

2. Asian Flu (1950s)

3. Hong Kong Flu (1960s)

4. H1N1 Flu (2009)

5. COVID-19 (2019-present).

As many employers are now experiencing first-hand, a pandemic can have a major impact on business operations. For example:

• employees may be forced to remain at home to care for family members
• multiple employees may fall ill at the same time
• employees may be concerned about reporting to the workplace due to fear of contracting illness.

These and other potential impacts underscore the importance of disaster planning, making it crucial for employers to have a pandemic preparedness plan to minimize the risk and panic of employees and, at the same time, provide continuity in business operations. Employers should:

• create or update a pandemic preparedness plan (PPP)
• provide employee training or a refresher course on the PPP
• engage the state and local health department to confirm channels of communication and methods...
  
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