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.
___
Source: AP interviews.
