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How would your business operate if half your work force were out sick? Would your business continue to function if several of your top key employees died? How many employees are cross-trained in other positions?

Online Stock Market Trading A recent study showed the threat that most preoccupies the world's business leaders is a global influenza pandemic. This is why you need to start asking these questions now so your business can be prepared for a possible bird flu pandemic. A bird flu pandemic will not discriminate. Everyone from the janitor to the CEO would be affected. Worst-case scenario could leave millions sick and any where from 5 million to 1.5 billion people dead around the world.

"Businesses should evaluate all real and perceived risks to their organisation, " said Richard Smith, employment services director at Croner. "While it may be more front of mind to prepare for other threats, such as terrorism, a pandemic could cause even greater disruption, " he warned. HSBC has announced it is creating contingency plans based on the worst case scenario of having half its global workers absent if a bird flu pandemic occurs.

Stock Investing Course The World Bank, which has estimated that a bird flu pandemic lasting a year, could cost the global economy up to $800 billion. The economic toll on the world economy will be catastrophic. There would be major economic losses due to worker absences and interruptions in supply and delivery chains. Even a ìmildî pandemic would have lasting effects on your business. Because a global flu pandemic is such a threat, current business and disaster response plans may not be adequate to deal with it. What steps should you start to take now to prepare?

Small businesses have been urged to introduce contingency plans to prepare for the impact of a possible bird flu pandemic in the UK. Most UK firms are underestimating the potential consequences of the virus, according to HR consultancy Croner, and are advised to devise plans with a combined effort from HR, health and safety and senior management personnel.

Stock Market Game As with any worst-case scenario you should be aware of the risks and have a contingency plan in place before you need it. By planning now you will help keep your business running, your employees safe and head off possible legal issues. Some of the steps you may want to consider are:

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Stock Investing Game Establish a pandemic coordinator or team with responsibilities for preparedness and response planning. Provide current avian influenza information to all employees. Identify and make available information on community resources.

By By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) - U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisers voted Tuesday to recommend approval of the first bird flu vaccine, even though it would protect only 45 percent of people exposed to the virus. The vote came after FDA officials said that the vaccine could still play an important role in protecting against the likelihood of a flu pandemic, despite its limited effectiveness.

Journal Prime Rate Street Wall Identify key essential areas and current employees responsible. Cross-train other employees in those areas so they are able to fill in for sick employees. Have written documentation for those employees filling in for others.

Even when the flu does not reach pandemic proportions, it is the source of misery, illness, and death every flu season, which runs roughly through the fall and early winter months in North America. Since the early 1970s, researchers estimate that influenza has caused more than 40, 000 deaths in the United States every year (Dushoff J et al 2006). It is estimated that flu outbreaks cost about $12 billion annually in the United States (Kasper DL et al 2004).

Stock Market News Identify key suppliers and alternative sources for critical materials and supplies. Increase raw material inventories to keep production going for several months. Plan for ìjust in timeî inventory shortages. Products and inventory from Asian countries may not be available if Asian factories are shut down due to illness.

Stock Investing Basics Play "what if?" What if Joe in accounting was out sick for a month? Or Sam in IT died? Who could fill in, how would the business run? It is estimated that between 30-60% of the workforce will be out sick.

Stock Investing Software Maintain a healthy work environment. Encourage hand washing, offer hand sanitizers, consider quality air purifiers. Limit face-to-face contact with employees and customers. Limit large group meetings, shared workstations and public events. Limit or eliminate non-essential business travel. Make use of conference calls and video conferencing.

Stock Market Trading Review employment policies to see if you can require employees to stay home if they are sick. Establish new sick time policies. Check employee agreement clauses for business closure plans, hours of work and position changes. Establish policies and procedures for sending staff home, staff leaving work on their own, unauthorized absences and returning to work. Plan to offer additional sick time pay or wage and salary advances to staff unable to work. Plan for family member illness, community quarantines, school/business and public transportation closures.

Stock Investing For Dummy Offer telecommuting options to as many employees as possible. Offer flextime and other creative job options.

Stock Market Crash Back up essential files off site, provide access to a network of key employees.

Stock Investing Tip Establish a communication plan for employees and business contacts. Include key contacts and tracking for employee status. Employees will be hungry for up to date information about their business, jobs and co-workers. Good communication with your employees is essential to avoid rumors, panic and misinformation.

Stock Market Chart To encourage employees to stock up on food and supplies for an extended home stay, purchase supplies for them in bulk to take advantage of discounts, offer the savings to employees. Or offer them a SAMís Club or Costco membership at no charge.

Online Stock Investing Taking these steps today will help your business be prepared for a possible bird flu pandemic, survive for the duration and return to business as normal faster than those who are not prepared.

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Stock Investing For Beginner To stay up to date on avian influenza, bird flu and the h5n1 virus visit The Bird Flu Index http://www.birdfluindex.com Find links to bird flu websites, official medical and government sites and full information about how the bird flu could turn into a global influenza pandemic. Search through the article archive for the latest bird flu articles. For the latest bird flu news visit The Pandemic Zone http://pandemiczone.blogspot.com

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