What kinds of information should be conveyed to employees to prepare them for the issues that are likely to be of concern to them should a pandemic occur? What is the best way to communicate this information?

Answer:

Communicating good hygiene and infection control practices will help keep your workforce healthy.  It is recommended that you share materials that educate employees on the fundamentals of pandemic influenza (e.g., symptoms of influenza, modes of transmission); personal and family response strategies (e.g., hand hygiene, coughing/sneezing etiquette, contingency plans); and community and workplace mitigation strategies (e.g., social distancing, provision of infection control supplies).  Tools from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to aid your communication, as well as Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s workplace safety and health guidance are available on PandemicFlu.gov.  Remind employees of the resources available to them, e.g., Employee Assistance Programs, vendor provided benefit counseling, etc. 

Information about your pandemic preparedness and response plan should be distributed to employees.  Proactive communication will also help gain employee trust, and prevent employee fear, anxiety, rumors and misinformation.  Ensure that your communications are culturally and linguistically appropriate.  There are various platforms of communication, and the best ones for your employees will depend upon your business.  Hotlines, dedicated Web sites, brochures, posters, and telephone trees are just a few ways to communicate pandemic status and actions to employees in a consistent and timely fashion. 

Also, as part of your pre-pandemic planning, you may want to consult with your bargaining unit representatives if you have a labor union.

Note: As an overall matter, employers should be guided in their relationship with their employees not only by federal employment law, but by their own employee handbooks, manuals, and contracts (including bargaining agreements), and by any applicable state or local laws.

Not all of the employment laws referenced apply to all employers or all employees, particularly state and local government agencies. For information on whether a particular employer or employee is covered by a law, please use the links provided for more detailed information. This information is not intended for federal agencies or federal employees -- they should contact the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for guidance.

Last Updated: 01/25/2008