Having just read this article, and participated in several discussions around Pandemic Planning, I am of the belief that folks might want to consider mandatory 10 day sick times/work from home times for H1N1 infected employees.

Research shows that infected folks may be contagious for up to 10 days from the onset of their symptoms, even after they “feel better”. The problem with this is that as they “feel better” they may return to work or school, thus exposing others to the virus, albeit, inadvertently. Many people simply think that if they “feel better”, then they must be over the infection and not contagious anymore.

So, as you consider your pandemic plans, please think about the idea of a 10 day work from home program or the like for folks that are symptomatic. Explanation and education of folks carrying the virus can only help, so take the time to explain this cycle to your team.

Thanks for reading and please let us know if you have any questions about pandemic planning or remote working issues. My team and I have been doing quite a bit of consulting lately reviewing pandemic plans and helping organizations make sure that they are prepared and that their remote access systems are robust enough to handle the load and secure enough to be trusted. If we can be of any help to your organization along these lines, please do not hesitate to call or drop us a line!