GlaxoSmithKline's Pandemic Flu Risk Management Calculator

Many federal health experts state that pandemics are as natural as hurricanes or earthquakes, and have occurred three times in the last 100 years.  Given the speed of global commerce and ease of world travel today, a pandemic influenza outbreak could have devastating consequences on both human wellbeing and companies.

 

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), together with Milliman Consultants and Actuaries, recently commissioned a white paper entitled "Pandemic Influenza Risk Management for Employers."  This study investigates the effects of a pandemic flu and its potential impact on employees' health and their employer companies' fiscal health.  For example, the white paper finds that 30% of an employer's workforce could be absent from work for up to three weeks due to sickness, fear of becoming sick, or caring for family or friends.  It also found that a severe pandemic flu could reduce an employer's revenue by 8% and its profit rate by 16-17 percentage points during the quarter of the pandemic.  Even a moderate scenario could reduce an employer's revenue by 3-4 points, the study finds.

 

To help employers estimate the economic consequences of a pandemic flu on their company, GSK has created a Pandemic Influenza Risk Management Calculator to assist them in planning how a pandemic would likely affect a company's workforce and profitability.  For more on the calculator, the white paper, or resources about workplace pandemic flu planning click here.