How will Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations’ (FBCOs) work environments need to change during an influenza pandemic?

Answer:

In an influenza pandemic, many members of an organization may need to stay home, either because they are sick or because family members are sick.

Steps to Operating Effectively in a Pandemic:

• Engage in cross-training of staff and volunteers to help make sure that essential jobs will be performed, all organizations need to.
  
  
• Prepare contact information for staff, volunteers, and members or clients for use during an emergency. This information should include names of family members; addresses; home, work, and cell phone numbers; e-mail addresses; and emergency contacts.
  
  
• Financial planning is important.
  
  
  • Budget. When planning budgets, your organization should consider the possibility of an influenza pandemic among the host of unforeseen emergencies, such as fires and natural disasters that can potentially cause a shortage of funds. It may be useful to have some resources on hand to cover unforeseen expenses as banks may be temporarily closed.
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  • Charitable Development Strategies. Many congregations and non-profit organizations rely on community giving to support their activities. In their planning for a possible pandemic, such organizations will want to develop ways—through the mail, the Internet, or some other means—to enable people to make financial contributions, even if they must stay at home for an extended period.
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• Congregations and other organizations also need to plan for incorporating job flexibility as a means of accommodating the inevitable worker absences that are likely to accompany an influenza pandemic.
  
  
  • For example, working at home—sometimes called telecommuting—is one option for certain job categories. Organizations can use the mail, e-mail, or telephone to relay work assignments and other communications to homebound staff members and volunteers.
    
    
  • For those jobs that cannot be done from home, organizations can set up flexible work hours and schedules (e.g., staggered shifts) to limit the number of people who must gather at the workplace at one time. Organizations should also instruct employees to regularly wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Related Questions:

How will faith-based and community-based organizations ...

• ... help with child care?
• ... help people communicate during a pandemic?
• ... help people to keep healthy during a pandemic?
• ... provide spiritual and emotional support during a pandemic?
• ... assist people who rely on public, community, or congregational support?
• ... assist people who are vulnerable because of a disability?

Other related questions:

• What will be the role of Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations (FBCOs) in helping their communities during an influenza pandemic?
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• How can Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations’ (FBCOs) facilities be useful during an influenza pandemic?
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• How are partnerships a vital part of community mitigation efforts?
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• What is a good example of Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations (FBCOs) and a Pandemic Influenza Exercise?
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• Where can Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations (FBCOs) find additional information?

Frequent Questions Links:

• All Planning and Response Questions
• Frequent Questions Home

Last Updated: 11/06/2007