« Some HR people feel isolated with respect to the H1N1 issue. They shouldn’t ! »

« Some HR people feel isolated with respect to the H1N1 issue.
They shouldn’t ! »

Lisa Bull, Ceridian Canada

How should organizations be reacting to H1N1 flu? What is the role of human resources in this problem? On which axes should they focus their duties? Lisa Bull, Manager, Training and Communications, LifeWorks at human resources consulting firm Ceridian Canada, shares with us her take and recommendations on these issues.

According to your observations, what is the greatest concern of organizations with respect to the threat of an H1N1 flu epidemic?

Their main concern is knowing whether they will be able to continue their activities if too many employees are absent, whether because they are sick themselves or because they have to take care of family members. They are facing a major managerial risk. What I’m seeing, though, is that many companies have learned their lesson from the SARS crisis, for which they were unprepared. They’ve understood that developing a business continuity plan is essential, and they’ve put it into practice for H1N1.

What is the role of HR professionals in this preparation?

It’s incredibly important! Committees have been set up in the companies that are best prepared for a possible H1N1 flu pandemic. There, human resources professionals play an essential role. Their main task is to follow up absent employees and manage their absenteeism. They need to be able to track exactly who is not at work and why. Is the employee sick? Is a family member sick? When will the employee be able to resume work? These questions are key.

What are the other axes of their duties?

Human resources have a major role to play in communication. They need to make sure that employees know the procedures to follow in case they get sick. It is also their responsibility to inform employees of the precautions to be taken and answer their questions, so as to prevent any anxiety or panic. In addition, they need to work jointly with technical services to find and test telework solutions, which can be of use if there are too many people off the job. This requires making sure employees will be able to use their computer at home, and that they have access to a phone and all the other resources that they need. We need to get organized upstream to test the reliability of this kind of set-up.

What do you think HR people should be most concerned about as regards H1N1?

Two things are crucial, I think. First, HR professionals really need to attach particular importance to communicating the most relevant and accurate information possible. They also need to reassure employees and get the message across that everything is under control and that operations will continue. Secondly, they need to track employee absences closely in order to measure their real impacts on the organization.

Are there guides or tools for helping HR staff deal with H1N1?

Yes, there are many resources. Private consultants have written guides to help companies prepare themselves. Ceridian clients can download our guide from our website. A lot of information is also available on government portals, especially the Public Health Agency of Canada site. Finally, companies can use the services of external consultants. To start off, though, I recommend HR people contact their insurance provider, which is a valuable source of information.

What are your other recommendations?

Some HR people feel isolated with respect to the H1N1 issue. They shouldn’t! They aren’t alone! I recommend that they get in touch with their professional association and partners. Some companies have already successfully implemented business continuity plans. Their experiences can serve as support. If I take the example of Ceridian Canada, we drafted our continuity plan eight months ago. This gave us time to carry out tests, especially as regards telecommuting, to see whether we could continue operating with a minimum of employees. “Predict and prepare” is our motto. I think it’s important to realize that today we’re talking about H1N1, but in the future there will be other pandemic risks. We’re better off preparing now, so as not to be caught by surprise the next time around.

What do you think is key to good preparation?

Education! I’ve interviewed many practitioners and partners in order to organize online seminars for our clients. For H1N1, as for any other virus or disease, it is essential to give the most accurate information possible. It’s the best way to conquer fear and prevent the spread of the disease. In the case of H1N1, for instance, it is up to everyone to take common-sense precautions. You should wash your hands thoroughly, sneeze or cough into the crook of your arm, or into a tissue that is then discarded. And if you are sick, stay home.