Knowledge Centre
23rd July 2009
Small businesses need their own set of measures to help them cope with the swine flu pandemic, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
The lobby group has written to Health Secretary Andy Burnham proposing a range of solutions and asking for a meeting to discuss the threat to small firms.
One suggestion looks to cut through red tape by simplifying the reimbursement process for small businesses that are paying out statutory sick pay. The FSB recommends making the reclaim process automatic for companies with less than 20 staff.
Another proposal calls for a moratorium on routine inspections during the height of the pandemic.
FSB national chairman John Wright said that a small business employing only three people could expect to have its entire workforce absent for up to two weeks in the autumn - either through infection, or disruption through transport problems or school closures.
"Although it is still difficult to estimate the full effect of the spread of the pandemic, we know that small firms - which contribute more than half of UK GDP and employ 60% of the private sector workforce - will be very badly hit," he added.
The call comes on the day the Government is expected to unveil its National Flu Service - designed to reduce the burden on GPs by allowing patients to be diagnosed by telephone, or identify their own symptoms online, and then obtain a prescription for free anti-viral drugs.
IMAGE PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Small firms need swine flu measures, says FSB
The lobby group has written to Health Secretary Andy Burnham proposing a range of solutions and asking for a meeting to discuss the threat to small firms.
One suggestion looks to cut through red tape by simplifying the reimbursement process for small businesses that are paying out statutory sick pay. The FSB recommends making the reclaim process automatic for companies with less than 20 staff.
Another proposal calls for a moratorium on routine inspections during the height of the pandemic.
FSB national chairman John Wright said that a small business employing only three people could expect to have its entire workforce absent for up to two weeks in the autumn - either through infection, or disruption through transport problems or school closures.
"Although it is still difficult to estimate the full effect of the spread of the pandemic, we know that small firms - which contribute more than half of UK GDP and employ 60% of the private sector workforce - will be very badly hit," he added.
The call comes on the day the Government is expected to unveil its National Flu Service - designed to reduce the burden on GPs by allowing patients to be diagnosed by telephone, or identify their own symptoms online, and then obtain a prescription for free anti-viral drugs.
IMAGE PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images
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