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Brought to you by Insurance Center of New England, Inc.
Volume No. 1
Is Your Small Business Prepared for H1N1?

A small business - typically 100 employees or less,  may be severely impacted by absenteeism, restricted services and supply chain disruptions that may occur as result of the 2009-2010  H1N1 flu season. 
 
Fortunately, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Department of Homeland Security and the Small Business Administration provides guidance to help small businesses keep their employees healthy and safe in an effort to minimize the impact of a disruption in business operations.
 
This edition of Beyond Benefits will highlight some of the information that is contained in the preparedness guide "Planning for 2009 H1N1 Influenza- A Preparedness Guide for Small Business".  The entire guide is available for download at: http://www.flu.gov/professional/business/smallbiz.pdf
Developing a Plan
 
The following list addresses key points in developing
your Preparedness Plan.  Greater details for each
point can be found in the guide.

1.  Identify a Workplace Coordinator.
2.  Examine policies for leave, tele-working, and employee compensation.
3.  Determine who will be responsible for assisting ill employees in the work place.
4.  Identify essential employees, essential business functions and other critical outputs.
5.  Share your pandemic plans with employees and clearly communicate expectations.
6.  Prepare business continuity plans.
7.  Establish an emergency communications plan
In This Issue
Develop a Plan
Keeping Healthy - 10 Tips for Businesses
Keeping Healthy - 8 Tips for Individuals
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  Keeping Healthy- 10 Tips for Businesses
   
1. Develop Policies encouraging ill workers to stay home.  
2. Develop flexible policies to allow workers to tele-work.
3. Provide resources and a work environment that  promotes personal hygiene.
4. Provide education and training materials.
5. Instruct employees caring for ill family members to monitor their health everyday.
6. Encourage employees to get the seasonal influenza vaccine.
7. Encourage employees to get the 2009 HINI vaccine when it becomes available.
8. Provide employees with up-to-date information on influenza risk factors.
9. Implement practices to minimize face-to-face contact between workers.
10. Designate a separate area for employees who get sick at work and encourage them to go home.

Keeping Healthy- 8 Tips for Individualssink image
 
1.  Stay at home if you are sick.
2.  Wash your hands frequently.
3.  Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes.
4.  Cover your coughs and sneezes.
5.  Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
6.  Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean.
7.  Try not to use other workers' phones, desks or offices.
8.  Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
About UsICNE Logo
 
Insurance Center of New England, Inc. is a regional independent insurance agency providing full-service commercial and personal insurance protection and group employee benefits programs.  Based in West Springfield, MA as Insurance Center of New England, Inc. and in Gardner, MA as Heritage Insurance Agency, we have satellite locations in Chicopee, Chelmsford, Danvers, Fitchburg, Lowell, Orange and Winchendon.
 
For additional information contact Judy Davis at (413) 750-7133 or jdavis@icnegroup.com.