Iredell employers anticipate H1N1

By: Bethany Fuller | Mooresville Tribune
Published: October 02, 2009

Local businesses are relying on good communications to prevent the spread of H1N1 influenza.

With flu-like symptoms popping up earlier this year and the pandemic status placed on the virus by the World Health Organization, many business owners are empowering their employees with information on how to prevent the flu from spreading.

"I definitely know it is on the minds of all the HR professionals in Iredell County," said Kewaunee Scientific Corp. Human Resources Vice President Beth Phillips. "We can tell that the flu season has hit early this year."

The Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Statesville Development Corp. and the Mooresville-South Iredell Development Corp. are hosting a workshop at noon on Oct. 12 at Little Joe's Chapel in Troutman to help employers help their work force.

"It is highly likely that the swine flu will have an impact on business in Iredell County," said Statesville Chamber President and CEO David Bradley. "We will get an up-to-the-minute understanding of where and how widespread it is."

It is the first business forum held in recent years involving a contagious disease, Bradley said.

Bradley said it is important to set up a communication avenue between businesses to share information from emergency management and the Iredell County Health Department. The two county departments will be presenting information at the event.

Iredell County Health Department spokeswoman Katherine Land said the virus was deemed a pandemic because of how easily it spread. If an employee is sick, then his or her boss should make them feel comfortable with staying home, she said.

"You are not going to get better without resting and other people might get what you have," Land said.

Phillips said employees have been notified that the company would be lenient on absences caused by the flu.

Kewaunee has distributed an H1N1 fact sheet and is encouraging proper hand washing.

Even within the past week, it has become increasingly apparent that a number of workers have been affected by the flu either directly or indirectly, Phillips said.

Phillips said team leaders and supervisors have been equipped with enough information to answer their subordinates' questions about the H1N1 virus.