| Forget the economy, panic is sweeping the nation and | | | | have no qualms about taking time off sick, but |
| it’s called Swine Flu. Whether it becomes a global | | | | employees who receive SSP only may think twice |
| pandemic or whether it turns out to be no worse than | | | | before taking a day off work and struggle in |
| any other flu virus that sweeps the nation every winter | | | | regardless. |
| remains to be seen. | | | | Swine flue does present the perfect opportunity for |
| However this is an issue that employers should give a | | | | anyone who wants to take a few days off work, as |
| thought to now. What if someone phones in saying | | | | they can claim they erred on the side of caution by |
| ‘I’m not very well, I’ve phoned the doctor but | | | | staying at home rather than risk infecting their |
| she just tells me to stay at home. I might have the flu | | | | colleagues. |
| but I’m not sure. Do you want me to come | | | | Employers would be wise to think now about how to |
| in?’. In this kind of situation, the employer has to | | | | deal with this problem before it becomes more wide |
| balance the interest of staff attending work against | | | | spread, both in terms of whether to risk someone |
| the risk of a sick member of staff infecting others. Of | | | | coming in to work and whether to give discretionary |
| course if he really did have the flu, he probably | | | | sick pay if you ask them to stay at home. The first |
| wouldn’t be well enough to come in anyway, but he | | | | step for employers and affected staff alike though will |
| may be in the early stages. | | | | be to get up-to-date medical advice. |
| Staff who do not receive contractual sick pay may | | | | |