IT Contractors Should Prepare for Second Round of Swine Flu

As summer draws to a close, we wait with baited breath for the second ‘imminent’ wave of Swine Flu predicted for this month. Although the number of cases dropped throughout August and the pandemic has turned out not to be as bad as predicted, the colder days, children and students returning to study, and workers back from their overseas holidays, the number of cases is set to rise again and indeed it has been widespread in the news that the second wave could be more virulent. In fact the Trades Union Congress are saying it is “very likely” that up to 10% of the population could be sick at any one time during the autumn/winter period.

So, as an IT contractor are you prepared? We always advise that as a contractor, you set some money aside as a safety net in case you find yourself between contacts, hopefully you have done, and this will help you should you need to take time off sick with Swine Flu.

If you have Income Protection Insurance which covers you from day one, ensure everything is up to date and check your terms and conditions. It is worth bearing in mind, that with most of these policies you require a GP report to claim, which is normally a simple and swift procedure, however with increased pressure on GPs due to the pandemic, this may cause delays in processing and you could be left waiting for your money to come through.

Similarly if you are considering taking out Protection Insurance prior to the second wave of the pandemic, you could find GPs struggling to provide you with the report you need, which in turn could delay your cover. There are policies around which offer alternatives, so it is worth researching which one is right for you very carefully in the current situation.

Ultimately, my advice would be, if you haven’t already, put some money aside just in case you fall ill. And remember, if a member of your family falls ill with Swine Flu, you may need to quarantine yourself just in case to prevent it spreading further.

Many companies are well prepared for the next wave of the Swine Flu pandemic; having increased effective washing facilities, staff awareness of the disease and personal hygiene, so ensure you are aware of the steps being taking where you are currently working. Many of our clients have issued literature on procedures that need to be adopted by both employees and contractors, so make sure you comply with these if the end-client has issued such information at your site too.

However, if you do feel unwell with flu-like symptoms you need to contact the National Swine Flu Helpline and refrain from work until the symptoms disappear. Please make sure you contact your consultant here at Vector on the first day of sickness so that we may inform the client at the earliest opportunity.

Martin Pite, Team Manager, Vector Resourcing