Paid sick leave for swine flu??

avs0020

As a small company not wanting to shirk its responsibilities, we're trying to draw up a proposal for a swine flu pandemic we hope never happens. We dont have any money to spare so we cant be too ambitious. We do have a modest paid sick leave policy kicking in from day 4 and paying €50 a day. I'm posting this thread to try and get a feel for what is generally expected and what is considered fair and reasonable.


As employers some of the questions that have to be answered are:

• What to do if an employee becomes infected?
• What is company's position re paying staff to stay home to avoid contaminating colleagues?
• Will we allow staff time off for taking care of sick family members (do we exceed statutory Force Majeure entitlements)?
• Is there a risk of swine flu being used as an excuse for absenteeism?
• Do we get actively involved in a vaccination program for our staff?
• How do we handle someone who doesnt want to get the vaccine?
• How seriously do we take all of this? What is a measured and appropriate response?

I'd sincerely appreciate any debate or feedback on this issue, especially with regard to an employer's approach to the problem.

Thanks

Shelflife

Swine flu is the same as any other illness, you will need a cert from the doctor and then your sick pay scheme kicks in.

if they are a risk to fellow employees then they are not fit to return to work and will be certified sick.

your existing rules will apply re sick relatives, usually annual leave or unpaid leave will apply.

not if you insist on a cert.

you can facilitate your staff by giving time off to be vaccinated.

(from a distance ) you cant force anyone to get the vaccine, if they get sick see above.

its something to be aware of at the moment as opposed to being scared of.

The_Conductor

Given the nature of Swine Flu- and the fact that it normally takes 2 weeks to recover fully from it (unlike regular flu)- workers should be put on certified sick leave at the earliest possible opportunity. This entitles them to claim illness benefit from the DSFA.

S.

griffin100

• What to do if an employee becomes infected?

Tell them to stay at home and call their GP or the HSE feephone no.

• What is company's position re paying staff to stay home to avoid contaminating colleagues?

If staff have flu or symptoms they stay home; if not they come to work. If your concerned about employees infecting each other make sure that you have tissues, bins and pleanty of warm water and soap in your workplace. Ensure regular cleaning.

• Will we allow staff time off for taking care of sick family members (do we exceed statutory Force Majeure entitlements)?

Its a judgement call. If its exceeded can you have them take it as unused leave from this year or have them take it from nexts years allowance

• Is there a risk of swine flu being used as an excuse for absenteeism?

Yes. Make sure that a doctors note is provided for all absences as per normal - might be difficult as current advice is to avoid GP if you are ill. Workers may need partner / friend to get cert from doctor on their behalf.

• Do we get actively involved in a vaccination program for our staff?

HSE will issue directions in time. Would be no harm for any high risk group employees to get the seasonal flu vacination as normal.

• How do we handle someone who doesnt want to get the vaccine?

You can't male someone get a vaccine. Not all persons can get vacinnes due to their health status. Its no big deal.

• How seriously do we take all of this? What is a measured and appropriate response?

Make sure all employees are aware of what to do if they have symptoms
Don't allow staff to panic
Have a robust business continuity plan in place

Remember, most infected staff will miss 5 working days maxium (any more and they are taking the piss unless a GP has told them to stay at home). The illness is no worse for 99% of people than sesonal flu. If as the HSE suggest 25% of the population get the flu plan for a couple of weeks with 25% of all staff missing.

If you want to pm me . I coordinare flu planning for a large organisation. #

Look at www.hse.ie / www.hpsc.ie