Swine flu measures could be legal minefield, experts warn
April 29, 2009, PersonnelToday.com

With the global outbreak of swine flu, multinationals face legal hurdles in their urgent efforts to protect their employees and implement pandemic precautions and policies across worldwide operations.

"Employers have a keen interest in keeping staff healthy and in containing the spread of a disease, not only for the obvious reason of employee welfare but also to keep business operations running and to minimize liability exposure," said Don Dowling, International Employment Counsel at White & Case LLP. "However, there are some serious legal implications for multinational employers to consider, including involving existing overseas health and safety committees and worker representatives, providing medical care/vaccinations in the workplace, and imposing travel bans and quarantines -- all while weighing these precautions against stringent privacy and employment laws."