As many as one in eight UK workers could be off sick (external website) when the current wave of the 2009 swine flu pandemic reaches its expected peak in the coming weeks, according to Government estimates.
The Business Link website includes the following estimates on the impact of the first wave of swine flu, which is currently hitting UK businesses:
[T]he first wave will peak broadly between late August to late September. During the peak weeks employee absence rates for illness (themselves or looking after ill children) may reach 12 per cent of the workforce - this is in addition to normal holiday absence.
The Government speculates that around 30% of the UK population will be affected by swine flu.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has advised employers to explore homeworking options to reduce the risk of high absence rates (external website).
And if teleworking is impractical, the BCC counsels employers to "consider the practicability of the effective use of social distancing within work environments", through methods such as staggered lunch breaks and reducing face-to-face meetings.
- XpertHR's swine flu resources page includes daily updates for employers on all aspects of managing the workplace impact of the swine flu pandemic.
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