PARSIPPANY, NJ - June 19, 2006 - Global organizations based in the tri-state area and beyond are meeting this week to strategize around how to plan for an avian flu pandemic. FGIworld, a leading North American-based provider of international employee and employer support services, is hosting a presentation and roundtable discussion on June 23rd in New York City that will include senior level Human Resources, Medial Directors and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) leaders from global companies in a diverse range of industries.
The development of the event has evolved from statistics that are motivating employers to start thinking proactively about how to respond should an avian flu pandemic occur. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has stated that during a severe pandemic, employers should expect an absenteeism rate of up to 40% as employees fall ill, stay home to care for family members, cope with grief, or are just too scared to come to work.
Jean-Marc MacKenzie, FGIworld´s VP & Business Leader, Physical Health & Risk Management, said that "Previous disasters have shown that preparation is key in mitigating both human and financial risks. Risk management lies in maximizing the areas where we have some control over the outcome, while minimizing the areas where we have none. We´ll be looking at precisely these issues in conjunction with a pandemic at Friday´s event."
A presentation by Mr. MacKenzie, Dr. Robert Francis, Chief Medical Officer, TD Bank Financial Group, and Paula Allen, VP Health Solutions & Product Development for FGIworld will examine key initiatives for preventing spread of illness in the workplace and ensuring health and safety while traveling, business continuity planning, and supporting the physical, mental and social health challenges faced by employees and managers, including expatriates, local nationals and international business travelers.
About FGIworld
FGIworld offers a strategic approach to supporting the health & productivity management of an organization´s global employees. We provide a range of employee assistance and cross-cultural training solutions to address the mental, physical and social health of employees in over 100 countries worldwide. www.fgiworld.com
For more information, please contact:
Mercedes Naficy D´Angelo
Director, Global Business Solutions
FGIworld
973-984-6465 ext. 13
mdangelo[at]fgiworld.com