15 Jan 2009
UK bosses are ignoring government warnings about the threat of a flu pandemic, according to The Business Continuity Forum.
A recent survey of 1500 business leaders by the independent advisory organisation has revealed a "widespread culture of ignorance and denial among Britain's bosses to the threat," it said. Three quarters of UK bosses are not supportive of planning to protect their businesses or employees should a pandemic hit.
It follows the publication of the government's National Risk Register in November, which said a flu pandemic is the greatest single threat to the country, carrying the potential to infect half of the UK population and to kill up to 750,000 people.
The Business Continuity Forum claimed its research underlines the vulnerability that businesses are leaving themselves open to. More than a third (36%) of bosses have no plans to address staff absence, and just 11% of businesses have established stockpiles of anti-viral medication to protect their employees.
Russell Price, Continuity Forum chairman, said: "There is a sense of paralysis among UK businesses when it comes to pandemic planning, and such paralysis is exactly what many businesses are exposing themselves to. As the economy continues to slow, it is surprising and worrying to see so many businesses willingly leaving themselves open to such serious financial risk."
Of the businesses that claim to be prepared, two-thirds admitted their plans will not be complete for a year and a half and most reported they have not tested their plans recently.
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