Some staff ‘using swine flu to skive’

Small business bosses are concerned that staff are taking advantage over the current fears concerning swine flu to take time off work.

Over a 1,000 companies have contacted Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) to seek advice over employees who they fear may be using swine flu as an excuse to be absent from work.

"Managers feel that some staff are simply taking advantage of concerns about the transmission of swine flu to take an extra few days off work," said Peter Mooney, ELAS's head of consultancy.

"Because the emphasis has been on not going to your local GP but using websites to assess the infection and the risk to others, those who stay at home are not going to need a doctor's note or have too many people calling on them to see how they feel."

The National Pandemic Flu Service advises that individuals who appear to have symptoms associated with swine flu should stay at home for up to seven days to recover and avoid passing on the virus.

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Swine flu: Is your business prepared?

Only 37% of the South East’s small and medium sized enterprises have plans in place to deal with a major emergency.* Business owners should act to help protect staff from swine flu and prepare for possible disruption to their operations.

Swine flu - Steps to prepare your business

Business Link have compiled some top tips to help you plan for and cope with swine flu, including:

- Recommendations for workplace hygiene.
- Putting contingency plans in place.
- Managing employee absence.

Full guide available here: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=5001344587&type=ONEOFFPAGE&site=210

* Source - South East Business Monitor (2007)

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Economic recovery in UK 'on hold'

The UK economy is set to shrink by 4.5% in this year, the biggest fall in a single year since 1945, according to an influential think-tank.

The downbeat forecast is more pessimistic than the consensus view, and considerably worse than the 3.5% fall predicted by the government.

The Ernst & Young Item Club also warned that hopes of economic recovery are "running ahead of reality".

The Item Club also warned of the threat posed to the economy from swine flu.

If doomsday predictions about the extent of the flu outbreak materialise, it forecast a further 3% contraction in GDP this year, on top of the 4.5%.

The flu could also wipe out any growth next year, with a worst case scenario of a further 1.2% contraction.

The Item Club also predicts that UK interest rates will be kept at their current level of 0.5% well into next year.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8157876.stm

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