Pandemic Planning – A Followup

I posted a blog discussing risks that are not often associated with global product engineering. In that article I specifically raise the issue of pandemic planning, given the recent outbreak of H1N1. Disaster Recovery magazine pick up on the same concept in their article “Four Practical Ways to Improve Your Pandemic Plan.”

While the article covers many aspects that I have discussed, it did bring together four key ideas:

>> Lesson 1: Employee absenteeism can be unpredictable, as employees won’t be affected uniformly.

>> Lesson 2: Employees paid close attention to how their companies handled the situation and turned to their employers for guidance.

>> Lesson 3: Companies that took measures to ensure their employees remained healthy at work are currently reaping the benefits of enhanced loyalty and productivity among employees.

>> Lesson 4: Companies often need medical consultation on how to handle different situations as they arise, but local Departments of Public Health (DPH) are likely to be overwhelmed and unable to provide that information in a timely manner.

H1N1 will be a disruptive event to domestic and international operations. Revisiting your approach to dealing this virus specifically, and pandemics in general, can save your company significant losses both in terms of product delays and resource productivity.

~ by Dr. J on October 30, 2009.