Some common strategies employers are using or planning to limit the spread of swine flu among their work force and keep operations going normally:

_ Posting information about the swine flu, including tips on hygiene and overall healthy behavior aimed at preventing infection, at the work site or on the company intranet.

_ Giving hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes to employees or placing them in major traffic areas.

_ Limiting in-person meetings and instead opting for teleconferences.

_ Encouraging social distancing, such as not shaking hands.

_ Cross-training employees to cover critical functions.

_ Planning to shift work from hard-hit locations to other facilities.

_ Stocking up on protective face masks.

_ Stepping up office facility cleaning, particularly in "high-touch" areas.

_ Telling workers to stay home if they are ill, generally until a day after their fever breaks.

_ Allowing telecommuting for staff members who must stay home to care for relatives sick with swine flu.

_ Drills to verify that computer systems can handle a sharp increase in those working remotely.

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Source: AP interviews.