5 things to consider before you prepare for a pandemic
1: Monitor Travel
Make sure you know who has recently travelled from infected areas. Consider asking them to voluntarily quarantine themselves if they have visited infected areas. Consider limiting travel to those areas.
2: Monitor Sickness
We understand that the current virus presents itself with similar systems to common cold or flu. Ensure your people let you know if they don't feel well. Consider central monitoring of all illness, however trivial. Ensure you keep in close communication with those off sick.
3: Communicate and Educate
Make sure you communicate to your people any escalation in World Health Organisation threat levels or your regional health authority advice. Let your employees know what you are doing and why - they are more likely to buy-in to your measures. Consider issuing a factsheet covering common questions they might ask you.
4: Review your Policies and Procedures
Make sure you know how you are going to deal with people who are affected, either directly or indirectly, if things get worse. What is your policy on paying people who don't feel it's safe to come into the office? What if they are unable to work because they can't get their usual childcare cover? What is your process for repatriating people from overseas in an emergency?
5: Prepare to Escalate
If infection is confirmed in your country / region then you should be prepared for your next steps. These steps might include:
Increasing the frequency of cleaning the building;
Putting up hygiene reminder posters;
Reviewing your working from home policy;
Asking people to voluntarily quarantine themselves at home if they are unwell;
Restricting face-to-face meetings;
Preventing 'hot-desking' or sharing of phones;
Providing hand gel and other kit;
Ensuring your key suppliers are going to be able to continue to support you, or that you have alternative plans in hand;
Talking to customers and other stakeholders about the measures you are taking and why.