What kinds of topics should a global pandemic workplace plan address?
The elements in an effective pandemic plan vary widely by employer—with the medical issues predominating over the legal. Pandemic plans tend to address topics as disparate as: workplace safety precautions; employee travel restrictions; stranded employee travelers unable to return home; mandatory medical check-up/vaccination/medication; mandatory reporting of exposure (employee reporting to employer and employer reporting to public health authorities); employee quarantine/isolation; terminations for infection; and facility shut-downs. Q: How does a pandemic workplace plan raise special concerns for a multinational company? A: A multinational will need to implement a pandemic plan across its worldwide operations. However, local laws, including labor, employment and health laws, could impact the plan’s legality on a local basis—both in terms of the plan’s content and its implementation. Failure to take into account those local laws could create local legal liability for the multinational.
