The following is the text of an emergency motion for consideration by the Mandating Meeting for submission to MoD Group Conference.Emergency Motion – Pandemic Flu
Conference notes that there has been cases in the UK of, so called, swine flu and that the MoD advice is as follows:
If an individual feels ill with symptoms consistent with a flu whilst at work, it is important that he or she does not simply carry on working. It should be reported immediately to the manager or occupational health and if the symptoms are consistent with influenza, the individual should be sent home, advised to contact the Flu information Line and told not to return to work until the symptoms have cleared and they feel well enough to return.
If individuals develop symptoms whilst not at work, they should adhere to the
following advice:
• Stay at home (self-isolate).
• Not go to work until they are fully recovered.
• For advice and an initial assessment of symptoms contact the Flu Information Line: 0800 1 513 513 (+44 20 7928 1010 if overseas).
• Inform their employer or occupational health department to let them know they are ill.
Conference notes this was lifted directly from the NHS guidance and the same guidance suggests that a symptom may be as simple as a runny nose. Notwithstanding the irony that the Unions have, for many years, argued that a culture of presenteeism was just as much a problem as absenteeism, Conference is concerned as to what could happen to an individual should they follow this advice and this triggers sickness absence investigation.
Conference calls on the GEC to ensure with the employer that any absence for cold/flu symptoms during the swine flu panic and any future pandemic scare or event should be discounted as sickness absence for inefficiency/capability reasons.
Conference further calls on the GEC to attempt to ensure that absence for this reason is fully paid and does not count towards full/half pay calculations for any subsequent absences. However, conference notes that this second instruction will be difficult to achieve and gaining the first instruction should not be dependant on the second.
If an individual feels ill with symptoms consistent with a flu whilst at work, it is important that he or she does not simply carry on working. It should be reported immediately to the manager or occupational health and if the symptoms are consistent with influenza, the individual should be sent home, advised to contact the Flu information Line and told not to return to work until the symptoms have cleared and they feel well enough to return.
If individuals develop symptoms whilst not at work, they should adhere to the
following advice:
• Stay at home (self-isolate).
• Not go to work until they are fully recovered.
• For advice and an initial assessment of symptoms contact the Flu Information Line: 0800 1 513 513 (+44 20 7928 1010 if overseas).
• Inform their employer or occupational health department to let them know they are ill.
Conference notes this was lifted directly from the NHS guidance and the same guidance suggests that a symptom may be as simple as a runny nose. Notwithstanding the irony that the Unions have, for many years, argued that a culture of presenteeism was just as much a problem as absenteeism, Conference is concerned as to what could happen to an individual should they follow this advice and this triggers sickness absence investigation.
Conference calls on the GEC to ensure with the employer that any absence for cold/flu symptoms during the swine flu panic and any future pandemic scare or event should be discounted as sickness absence for inefficiency/capability reasons.
Conference further calls on the GEC to attempt to ensure that absence for this reason is fully paid and does not count towards full/half pay calculations for any subsequent absences. However, conference notes that this second instruction will be difficult to achieve and gaining the first instruction should not be dependant on the second.
