Many Companies Preparing on Global Scale for A(H1N1) 'Swine Flu' Pandemic, According...

Many Companies Preparing on Global Scale for A(H1N1) 'Swine Flu' Pandemic,
According to Global Survey by Councils of The Conference Board

NEW YORK, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Many global companies have activated a
pandemic response plan to the threat of an A(H1N1) "swine flu" pandemic,
according to a survey released today by The Conference Board.

The survey of 121 members of 44 Councils of The Conference Board was taken
during the week of May 4. Councils are small, intimate, cross-industry
networking peer groups that bring together executives in a specific function
to share information and best practices.

Of those surveyed, more than half (55 percent) have a pandemic response plan
and have activated it in response to the current A(H1N1) outbreak.

In addition, the majority (66 percent) of companies are responding at a
global, enterprise level, rather than locally. Thirty-one percent of survey
participants are responding at a national level, only in affected countries
where their company is currently operating.

"Our research from The Conference Board Councils shows that while there are
some differences in corporate responses to the danger of an influenza
pandemic, most companies are in agreement that they should be prepared for the
worst and ready for a major threat to their global operations," says Carolyn
Cavicchio, Senior Research Associate, Global Corporate Citizenship, at The
Conference Board.

Although most companies are having discussions with all levels of government,
one-third of those surveyed have not engaged with government at all.

EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS IS CRITICAL
Almost all companies are taking special steps to communicate more frequently
and in more detail about a possible flu pandemic with employees, and 87
percent are using new media (such as websites and blogs) to accomplish this.
Eighty-one percent of those surveyed have actively encouraged employees who do
not feel well to stay home so they don't infect co-workers. Most companies
have policies like this that can be helpful in managing through the current
outbreak. An overwhelming 93 percent of survey participants will allow
employees to work off-site (from home or a satellite facility) during a
pandemic health emergency.

Half of respondents report that their companies are restricting business
travel, particularly to Mexico. However, half of respondents have not put
restrictions into their travel policies.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE BOARD
The Conference Board is a global, independent business-membership and research
association working in the public interest. Our mission is unique: To provide
the world's leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to
improve their performance AND better serve society. The Conference Board is a
non-advocacy, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in
the United States.
www.conference-board.org

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE BOARD COUNCIL PROGRAM
For 80 years, The Conference Board has organized small, intimate,
cross-industry networking peer groups that bring together executives in a
specific function to share information and best practices. These highly
interactive members-only networks facilitate ongoing interaction,
communication and benchmarking among leaders from the world's top companies.
Each group is a unique member-driven forum enhanced by the vast resources of
The Conference Board, including its research, economics, conferences, working
groups, webcasts and special events. Periodic face-to-face meetings help to
foster the strong personal relationships that make Council participation such
a powerful ongoing resource for today's busy executives who need a source of
immediate trusted feedback.

Council participation is available exclusively to member companies of The
Conference Board.

SOURCE The Conference Board

Frank Tortorici, +1-212-339-0231, f.tortorici@conference-board.org