HR - 09

Introduction

The purpose of this policy is to explain the sequence of events in a case of a pandemic Flu outbreak.  This policy will substitute the normal organisational sickness/absence policy (HR06) and holiday/time off policy (HR19). 

It is important to stress that we recognise our responsibilities to staff as well as our patients. We will do all we can to meet the needs of our staff, whilst balancing this with the need to be able to deliver a service to our patients.   

We would ask staff to be flexible in times of staff shortages.  Staff may be required to work in other areas of the organisation in order to maintain patient services or to work out of another location, and in some roles to work from home.

Volunteers may be asked not to attend for work during the period of the pandemic.  In some exceptional circumstances individual volunteers may be contacted and asked to work. Bereavement support visitors and counsellors may be asked to provide telephone support.

All precautions against infection should be followed in line with government guidelines, the StCH enhanced infection control procedures and information notices.  This policy needs to be read in conjunction with the infection control up-dates.

Symptoms

Most people will be susceptible to infection, although not all those exposed to the virus will develop symptoms. Symptoms are – fever, cough, malaise, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, hot and moist skin, and wheezing or enlarged neck nodes.  The illness itself normally resolves within seven days, although cough, malaise and fatigue can last for several weeks.  From the onset of the symptoms individuals are normally infectious for up to five days.

Staff with the above initial symptoms should not attend work.  Staff with flu symptoms can obtain advice from the Government flu advice line.  In addition staff should ask a friend or relative to collect a Tamiflu course from a designated antiviral distribution centre.  They should start taking Tamiflu ideally within 12 hours of onset of symptoms, but certainly no later than 48 hours after onset.

St Catherine’s Information

During the period leading up to and during a period of pandemic flu St Catherine’s will introduce a HR information hotline and a specialist page on the intranet will be set up.

The HR Hotlines or the specialist page on the intranet will contain regular up-dated information on the status of the pandemic and general healthcare advice. 

Hotline Number:   Staff  01293 447353 / Volunteers 01293 447351
Mobile Text Number:   07807 105879
Intranet Page:     via HR Page
Website Page:  via Join us
Email address: stchfluhotline@stch.org .uk

Whilst at work, managers and staff should up-date themselves by accessing the information on the intranet. During a period of absence, the staff members can up-date themselves via the HR Hotline or the website. 

Regular information up-dates will also be communicated via e-mail (internal and personal) or by text to a mobile telephone or home telephone.

Absences

Periods of absence
It is anticipated that any member of staff becoming infected will require between 7 - 10 days sickness absence.  Staff members should liaise with the HR team to keep them informed of their situation and to establish an appropriate point in time for them to return to work.  For other periods of absence (Carers/Dependant leave etc) the staff member should liaise with the HR Team to agree the absence and appropriate length of absence.

Types of Absence and Payment during absence
Staff sickness absence:  Occupational sick pay will apply to all members of staff in the normal way as for any sickness absence (policy HR07).

Carers/Dependants absence:  It is recognized that each member of staff may need to take time off to care for a dependant or relative during their period of sickness, or to care for a child whose school is not open.  This will be accommodated for a reasonable period of time.  It is anticipated that we will commit to paying the staff member for up to three days dependants’ absence during the period of the pandemic:- any absence over three days shall be unpaid or annual leave taken. 

Bereavement absence: for the purpose of this policy paid leave will be granted in relation to a death of a member of family or significant other. 

Other Leave (annual, study, public duties etc): Dependant on the level of staff absence, other leave may be cancelled during the intense period of the outbreak, unless annual leave is authorised as detailed above (Carers/Dependants absence). 

Reporting absence

All absences should be reported immediately via the HR telephone hotline on 01293 447353, 07739 211 453 (and text) or by e-mail directly to: fluhotline@stch.org.uk.  Staff should also contact their manager if they have work they need to hand over.

During a period of absence a member of the HR team or a manager may call the staff member to establish their current health status in order to enable the organisation to plan for service delivery.

The HR team will inform the appropriate managers of any staff absences on a daily basis.  The HR team will keep the Major Incident Planning Group (MIMG) fully briefed on the staff situation.

This policy has been written prior to a flu pandemic and is subject to review as part of the on-going business continuity planning.  Any revisions will be communicated to staff.