British Bank Draws Up Bird Flu Pandemic Contingency Plans
HSBC, one of the world’s biggest banks, has drawn up contingency plans to cope with the absence of up to half of its 253,000 staff in a bird flu pandemic, as fears grow of the virus spreading westward across Europe.
Planners behind the bank’s emergency strategy said that other major financial institutions were preparing for a similar level of absenteeism, double that predicted by EU health advisers.
HSBC, which operates in 77 countries, said that although it did not expect half of its staff to be struck down by flu, it would also have to cover for those off work for related reasons, including caring for family and restrictions on travel.
Bob Piggott, the head of crisis management at the group, said: “Bird flu is probably the single biggest challenge for the whole group. None of us knows the virulence of the virus, but I would rather be prepared for the worst.”
Source: Times Online.
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