Employers play a key role in protecting the health and safety of their employees during a pandemic outbreak. A “pandemic” is a global epidemic. There have now been five such pandemics in the last century:
As many employers are now experiencing first-hand, a pandemic can have a major impact on business operations. For example:
While a pandemic by definition involves a medical outbreak that spreads internationally, regional epidemics can also have a crippling impact on the business community. These and other potential effects 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: