MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Public health experts at Harvard and the University of Minnesota are warning that H1N1 will threaten most businesses in America as the flu spreads and more people miss work.

 The statement follows warnings from presidential advisors that hospitals and doctors' offices will be overwhelmed with H1N1 patients this flu season and a Sept. 4 report by the Institutes of Medicine advising healthcare workers treating H1N1 patients to wear respiratory protection, gloves, gowns, eye protection and other equipment.

"The novel H1N1 influenza is rapidly morphing into its second wave assault. Within eight to 10 weeks, every organization will confront how to cope with sick employees and stay in business," said Michael T. Osterholm, an international authority on pandemic influenza and business preparedness and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota.

"We're beyond theory and onto execution. The pandemic is here. And we need every business to recognize the impact they can have. It's not too late, but time is of the essence," Osterholm said.

CIDRAP is hosting a H1N1 summit for healthcare leaders and Fortune 500 planners Sept. 22-23 in Minneapolis.

"Hospitals and healthcare providers are already experiencing the added strain of treating patients with H1N1 and properly communicating to a cautious general public, challenges that will only increase with the rising numbers of cases," said Gina Pugliese, vice president of the Premier Safety Institute, which partnered with CIDRAP in planning the summit.

Summit organizer Aaron Desmond, CIDRAP's director of business preparedness, said human resource professionals found themselves on the front line during the spring outbreak, balancing rapidly changing guidance and new developments about the novel H1N1 virus. CDC guidance makes clear that one of the most effective ways companies can respond to a pandemic is ensuring HR policies allow sick workers to stay home. 

Results of a national survey of businesses released Sept. 9 by the Harvard School of Public Health confirm widespread concern about sustaining already-lean companies and organizations in the face of H1N1-related absenteeism and supply chain issues.

Harvard School of Public Health researchers found that one-third of businesses believe they could sustain business without severe operational problems if half their workforce were absent for two weeks due to H1N1.

The study also found that one-fifth believe they could avoid such problems for one month with half their employees out. The survey also found that while 74 percent of businesses offer paid sick leave for employees, only 35 percent of businesses offer paid leave that would allow employees to take care of sick family members, and even fewer (21 percent) would allow paid time off to care for children if schools and daycares were closed.

The polling was done July 16-Aug.12, 2009.

"Businesses need to start planning how to adjust their operations to account for greater absenteeism and to slow the spread of H1N1 in the workplace," said Robert Blendon, professor of health policy and political analysis at the Harvard School of Public Health.