45 per cent of employers have no pandemic plan in place
Many employees in Quebec would still show up for work even if they had the H1N1 flu virus, according to a new survey.
The Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés (CRHA), Quebec's HR association, surveyed 1,000 Quebec workers and found 24 per cent would still go to work even if they or a member of their household had the H1N1 flu virus.
This attitude is even more prevalent among men, with 33 per cent reporting they would go to work if they or a relative caught the virus.
Close to 60 per cent of respondents said they show up for work even when they really aren’t feeling well.
“We’ve already noted that employees in Quebec tend to show up at work even when they’re ill. They don’t seem to be sufficiently aware of the risks of such behaviour, which in the end benefits neither the employee nor the employer, and definitely should be stopped,” said Florent Francoeur, president and CEO of CRHA.
However, the survey also found 44 per cent of respondents would be afraid to go to work if one of their co-workers or someone in their household had H1N1 flu.
The poll also shows that there’s still a long way to go in terms of prevention in Quebec workplaces. Almost one-half (45 per cent) of workers reported their employers hadn’t introduced any preventive measures to cope with a possible H1N1 flu pandemic. Among less-educated workers, this figure rose to 59 per cent.
Despite the threat of a flu pandemic, 53 per cent of respondents said they hadn’t changed their personal habits, such as washing their hands, coughing into their elbows or using a hand sanitizer. Among men, this percentage was as high as 58 per cent.
“Without wishing to create a climate of panic and uncertainty, it’s important to point out how crucial it is for employers to introduce an emergency plan for dealing with a pandemic. At the same time, they should also promote prevention measures and make sure their employees are aware of the importance of minimizing the risk of contamination within their organization,” said Francoeur.
