The swine flu hysteria has caused many employers to examine their readiness in the event of an emergency.

It also presents an opportunity to educate employees.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest employers
take these four preventive steps:

1. Establish a pandemic coordinator and/or team with specific roles for preparing for and responding to an emergency.
2. Pinpoint essential employees and tasks that must be maintained.
3. Gather (and distribute) up-to-date info from local and state health and emergency-management resources.
4. Remind employees to wash hands often and cover their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze.

You may want to distribute handouts explaining to employees how their departments would operate if a large number of people got sick.  If your firm has a telecommuting policy, include this information.