Organizations
How Organizations Can Prepare
Faith-based organizations are in a special position to reach, promote and care for people and the community. In this potential crisis, preparedness and proactive planning are critical to protect the health and well-being of all and to keep ministry channels open.
IN THIS SECTION
Start to make preparations now, even though this crisis may never come. Preparation is at a personal, community and professional level. It starts with basic hygiene measures and ends at organizational, city, regional and national plans.
Possible Organizational Impact
Fear
Fear can be more dangerous that a disease itself. It is not a simple matter to deal with but an essential and spiritual one.
Employee Absenteeism
An organization should expect absenteeism levels to be between 20% and 60% for two to four weeks at the height of each pandemic wave. There are several reasons for this:
- Employees may be ill themselves. In past pandemics the infection reached 25-35% of the population. Mortality rate depends on the virulence of the virus
- Employees may be healthy but have become care givers
- They may have been away and refused reentry to the area or not be able to leave their own area due to a quarantine
Demand on Health Care services
In the event of a major outbreak, health services will be overtaxed at every level. Care may need to move into the community and be done by community members, church staff and family.
Restriction on Movement
Once there is evidence (according to the World Health Organization's monitoring system) of actual and increased human-to-human transmission of avian flu, and the WHO moves into Phase 4 of its global risk monitoring, governments and then local government will take containment measures.
- Border control
- Enforcement of quarantines
- Isolation of the sick
- Public gatherings may be banned
- Public transport may be suspended in certain areas
- In the worst-case scenario, there would be great pressure on essential services, business and social disruption, significant economic impact and even some breakdown of law and order as basic commodities become difficult to purchase.
Keep Informed and Communicate
- Locate good sources of information on bird flu (nationally and locally) so that you can tell fact from fiction. These resources will get you started.
- Follow global, national and local warning systems and be ready to respond
- Network with other local organizations for the care of the community
- Know what resources are available: experts, volunteers, supplies and information
- Know the local radio and TV stations that will broadcast updates on the situation. All staff should be aware of these
- Communicate essential information to all personnel: the symptoms of the virus, its transmission, the course of the disease, how they can avoid contracting it and passing it on, how they can care for family and community, who is most vulnerable
- Be prepared to bring missionary colleagues back from overseas appointments if that is their advance decision and if it is possible, before borders close
Hold information, planning and educational seminars for unit/group leaders
Meet at the work place or by long distance. Task those colleagues to do the same for their staff.
- Decide on the critical tasks that will keep the organization going should other services close
- Information about the possible pandemic and measures for containment, treatment and recovery that will be taken by the specific government, city and office
- Communicate organizational decisions and information about benefits and assistance
Create a cross-functional leadership team
Cross functional teams with decision making authority are important because the executive group will experience the same high absenteeism level. They should work on the premise that while the organizational goals may not change, the situation will and decisions will be ongoing through the preparation, onset, waves of and recovery from a pandemic.
- Conduct cross training so that more than one colleague performs these critical tasks
- Investigate the very best telephone plan for those who need the ongoing professional contact and also to advise all employees of this plan
Review human resource policies
Go over all policies related to employee contact information, absence and health.
- Update all contact information: telephone, email, home address, next of kin
- Leave policies because of the high levels of absenteeism anticipated
- Health, Disability and Life Insurance: ensure that contracted providers can assist with care in this event
- Crisis support: decide how much support the organization can give to employees
Plan for social distancing
Social distancing may become necessary to protect people from exposure. Some strategies are the following:
- Telephone conferencing instead of face to face meetings
- More people working from home
- Avoid public transport at peak hours, so that if the office is open people work different hours
Upgrade hygiene practices
Communicate to employees expected hygiene practices.
- Expectations of and protection for the cleaning and disposal service staff
- Expectations of and protection for food preparation, serving and clean up staff
- Expectations of colleagues with symptoms: the washing of hands, disposal of tissues, working from home
- In the event of a pandemic change personal greeting so employees do not come in physical contact like handshaking, kissing or hugging
Stockpile Emergency Supplies
Ensure that there are long shelf life food and water stocks at the work place.
Keep your 'Wellness Office' involved in the emergency planning
- If a doctor or nurse practitioners are at the work place they may be able to administer the vaccine and antiviral medications
- The unit would be stocked with medication for fever control and symptom relief
- Quarantine Policies: The virus may be brought into the workplace by an employee or visitor and they may need to be isolated, require immediate care and or be transported to a quarantine area or treatment area
- Masks may be an effective barrier in crowds of people and may also stop people from touching their faces
