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Swine flu: Staff to self-certify sick leave for up to two weeks

Employees will be allowed to authorise their own sick leave for as much as two weeks if government proposals to contain the swine flu pandemic go ahead.

The Department of Health (DoH) is "actively considering" doubling the amount of time staff sign themselves off sick from work from seven to 14 days so the employees do not need to get a doctor's note.

This means that potentially, employees could “abuse” the system as a means of taking two weeks off work with relatively little consequence, particularly as typical flu cases last about seven days, according to experts.

These proposals, which would only be expected to last for up to six months, will be an emergency measure, designed to free up medical resources and reduce the spread of swine flu in GP surgeries and, importantly, there will be no advance consultation with employers before implementation.

What should you do now?

Consider your contingency planning process in the face of threat of pandemic.
HCS recommend that employers issue communication to all employees to highlight the symptoms of swine flu.

Advise your employees of the simple steps that they can take to help prevent catching colds and flu based on good respiratory and hand hygiene:

Always use a tissue to catch your sneezes
Throw away used tissues where germs can linger and regularly wash your hands.

Symptoms may include:

headache
sudden fever (of over 38C or 100.4F)
sudden cough
tiredness
chills
aching muscles
limb or joint pain
diarrhoea or stomach upset
sore throat
runny nose
sneezing
loss of appetite

If your employee complains of any of the above symptoms advise the following:
England – Go online and check your symptoms at www.nhs.uk, or call the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513. If you still think you have swine flu call your GP. Avoid spreading the virus, do not go to A&E and do not go to your doctor’s surgery. The National Pandemic Flu Service will be live in England from the end of next week. This service will be made up of a dedicated website and call centres and will be able to quickly tell you if you have swine flu.
Scotland – contact your local GP or NHS24 on 08454 24 24 24

29 July 2009, Administrator