“Run away, run away!”
Over 40 percent of public health employees surveyed said they are unlikely to report to work during an influenza pandemic…
Local public health workers would play a vital role in responding to a pandemic, from monitoring the spread of illness, to organizing the distribution of medications, to communicating critical health information to the public. The survey, conducted in Maryland by the Bloomberg School’s Center for Public Health Preparedness, also found that 66 percent of public health workers felt they would put themselves at risk of infection if they were to report to work during a pandemic.
In the survey, clinical staff members, such as physicians and nurses, were more likely to say they would report for work. Technical or support staff, which included computer entry staff and clerical workers, were the least likely to say they would report to work.
Uh-huh.
Good, we can go to the Doctor and NOT get billed.
Dude, you are always gonna get billed. But if enough people die there wont be any money to pay and no bill collectors to call. Just look on the bright side.
Excellent post, Eideard. I hope people think about these things when politicians talk about “preparedness.”
Expanding on one of your quotes…
From the article:
“In the survey, clinical staff members, such as physicians and nurses, were more likely to say they would report for work. Technical or support staff, which included computer entry staff and clerical workers, were the least likely to say they would report to work.”
—and…
“We need more training for public health workers, particularly for those in technical and support roles, so they clearly understand the importance of their work in the event of a pandemic,” said co-author, Daniel J. Barnett, MD, MPH, of the Bloomberg School’s Center for Public Health Preparedness.”
I take it that by “training” Dr. Barnett means teambuilding exercises and other brainwashing techniques. I’m sure he didn’t mean that they need a pay increase. You get what you pay for.
well, KB, it’s not just the pay….it’s also the lack of loyalty by employees in response to the lack of loyalty by the employers! Gone is the determination to “get the job done” and any pride in doing it. Employees, lack that kind of motivation. Can’t blame them.
Case in point: Martin Macy and the law offices of Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro
” Macy wasn’t a lawyer. He was a messenger, beginning in 1965 at the age of 17. He delivered the mail office to office, desk to desk. He did this for 41 years. He was a company man, an emblem of an era when businesses were local and the bosses stopped you in the hall to ask about your mother’s cataracts.
Now he’s an emblem of a new era.
Last week, at age 58, he was laid off by what is now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a firm with 16 offices around the world, 900 lawyers and $600 million in revenue. ”
For background: http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=RYAN-04-06-06
When people were employed “for life” by one corporation or business, and knew the employer would take care of them……not fire them on some consultants whim, or some bean counters mathematical nonsense…..then employees were dedicated. They would show up for work during hard times, emergencies, and were really “part of the team”. Not anymore.
Team building is bullcrappie, and we all know it. You don’t build a team, knowing that you could be replaced in a week for no apparent reason.
When the support employees leave it’s because they know they’re expendable…..so, why risk your life?
I think we’re all doomed if there is another pandemic anytime soon.
Good points (as usual), Meetsy.
Pay issues are just symptomatic of the bigger issues which you point out. I’m amazed at companies who cut their work forces in half and then wonder why those remaining have no loyalty to the company. That’s usually when the company begins looking to team building to get everybody back on board. The suckers and the desperate stay.
I always thought team building exercises were a lot like hypnosis sessions, everybody keeping their eye on the ball, back and forth, back and forth….