This week, Jennifer Dray, the HR Representative for Chopper Trading, talked to Perspectives’ Working World Café about her experience leading the company’s H1N1 prevention efforts.
WWC: Hi Jennifer, thanks for speaking with us. Why don’t you start by telling us a little about Chopper Trading and your role there?
JD: Chopper Trading is a proprietary trading company, headquartered in Chicago, with about 100 employees. I’m primarily responsible for anything HR-recruiting related.
WWC: What motivated Chopper to launch an H1N1 prevention effort?
JD: We were working to open an office in London and our staff was doing a lot of travel. London’s flu season was earlier, so when our CEO saw the epidemic there he wanted to take action. Being proactive is important to us.
WWC: Can you give us some insight into what your company is doing around H1N1 and why?
JD: First, we conducted research and investigated recommendations by the CDC and other online information sources. Then, we ordered hospital grade towelettes for people to wipe down computers, phones, etc. We also installed touchless hand-sanitizer stands around the office and purchased spray sanitizers for the air and cleaning.
In addition, we purchased plastic gloves which are currently used by administrative staff. Our administrative support staff cleans everything daily; especially things like door handles and items in locations where there are a lot of people.
We did purchase masks as a precautionary tool but haven’t had to break those out.
All of the supplies are in various places around the office – three different kitchen and supply areas that can be easily accessed by staff.
WWC: How are you communicating with employees about the effort?
JD: We have had company meetings where we discussed precautions and what to look for. We also sent out emails about what we were doing around the office and how to use the various supplies.
People really embraced the effort. The hand sanitizers and wipes are being used and refilled regularly.
WWC: What recommendations do you have for other companies?
JD: One thing we are really strict about is asking employees to stay home, or work in a separate area that we set up, if they are sick. We actually have separate offices set up for that if they have to be here. If people with children have sick kids, we do what we can to help them work from home.
WWC: Are your efforts paying off?
JD: We haven’t had much illness and no cases of H1N1 so far.
It is not inexpensive, but by the end of flu season we’ll know if it’s worth it.
Tags: CDC, Chopper Trading, flu, flu prevention, flu season, H1N1, H1N1 Czar, Jennifer Dray, swine flu czar
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