Pics by me.....

Swine flu tips offered for employers!!!

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 400 cases of swine flu in the United States and the World Heath Organization continues its pandemic alert, several schools in Tampa Bay have been closed and president Obama has advised sick employees not to come to work and sick children not to attend school.

At this point, a severe pandemic flu outbreak is not anticipated. Still, the current situation is a cause for concern as a severe pandemic flu could affect as much as 40 percent of the work force.

While that is not anticipated, this is a good time for employers to look over a number of their policies and procedures and decide what needs to be done to be better prepared if a flu pandemic should happen.

The CDC encourages employees and their families to get flu shots, and it recommends that employers keep their employees informed about family preparedness, good hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette. Employers may want to download and circulate the CDC’s factsheet on preventing the flu.

Here are some other things employers should consider doing:

• Understand the Family and Medical Leave Act.

This law provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for themselves or sick family members. Generally, the FMLA regulations do not cover flu absences unless complications arise, but courts have interpreted the FMLA to mandate leave for the flu and other viral infections.

• Discourage sick employees from reporting.

Many employees have limited sick leave and limited medical insurance. To alleviate these concerns, employers may want to provide employees with additional paid or unpaid sick leave.

• Review employee assistance plans.

EAPs address stress and emotional issues, and are resources to assist employers and employees with pandemic preparation. Employers who already have an EAP should check to see if plan resources are available to them and their employees.

• Implement “social distancing” policies.

Telecommuting, flexible work hours and staggered shifts are all examples. Employers considering telecommuting policies should implement safeguards to monitor and manage employee performance from home, and to protect the employer’s ability to comply with wage and hour laws.

• Prepare for operational disruptions.

This includes cross training or preparing backup staffing. Employers should review emergency/disaster plans to ensure business continuity. Develop a plan that includes pandemic preparedness, and review it and conduct drills regularly. Pandemic plans should include a communicable illness response policy that provides a structure for responding to outbreaks.

For more information on how to get started, visit the U.S. government’s Web site for pandemic flu information.

• Consider obtaining personal protective equipment.

Provide facemasks, free or discounted flu shots, and antivirals. Employers considering the distribution of medications should contact counsel to ensure they comply with legal requirements and do not run afoul of state laws or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Web site on “Proposed Guidance on Workplace Stockpiling of Respirators and Facemasks for Pandemic Influenza.”

• Review union agreements. Determine whether they remain in force during a pandemic or medical emergency. Also, sick leave and other leave provisions may need attention.

• Update contact information. Home phone, e-mail, cell phone and address lists may need updating. Some employers have “phone trees” to contact employees to check on and alert them during an emergency. Take precautions !

Peru: Alan Garcia, Hugo Chavez & Evo Morales in Simpsons image!!!

Peru's President Alan Garcia along with the heads of state from other South American countries were drawn as if they were to appear on the Simpsons.

Created by artist Ed Wheeler, a picture of the presidents of Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Brazil is circling the internet.

The presidents of the South American countries are hugging each other and gathered around Latin pop singer Juanes, who is holding a guitar. The presidents of Chile and Argentina, Michelle Bachelet and Cristina Fernández are not in the picture.

The artist paid attention to even the smallest details, reported online media. Evo Morales can be seen wearing brown slippers along with an Andean style sweater instead of a suit.

While Alan Garcia is wearing a suit, it is a small one that doesn't cover his protruding belly. Hugo Chavez is seen wearing a red beret along with a red jacket.

According to Peru21 newspaper, it is hoped that the image will spark the interest of television producers to create an episode using the presidents of these South American countries.

For the last twenty five years, Ed Wheeler has photographed people, places and things for some of the most important corporations in America, says edwheeler.com.

Peru top Latin American country reducing production of coca plant!!!

Peru is the country in Latin America which has been the most consistent in its reduction of coca growing fields, reported Flavio Mirella, the Peru representative for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Mirella noted that while the production of coca in many countries in the region was progressively rising, in Peru the trend was different.

The UN representative commended Peru for having concrete policies that were aimed at fighting the production of coca leaves. He stated that firm laws were being passed by the government and that local and regional authorities were effectively working together.

Furthermore, Mirella explained that it was necessary for the countries funding the war on drugs to also assume active roles. "Peru can't be left alone because it has shown good signs of progress."

He assured there was a higher demand for cocaine in areas such as Europe, affirming it was necessary for authorities in nations that consume and produce drugs to work together and cooperate in the fight against illegal substances

Gasoline prices lower in January

Today, President Alan García Pérez announced there will be lower gas prices beginning the first week of January. This announcement comes a week after the Ministry of Economy and Finance promised Peruvians cheaper gas rates in the beginning of the new year. Minister of Economy, Luis Valdvieso, and the holder of Energy and Mines, Pedro Sánchez, told the public there will be lower gas prices beginning the first week of January but gave no further details on how much or when the new prices would take effect. Some criticisms have sprung up on the way García and the government handle the price of gas. Aurelio Ochoa, expert in hydrocarbons, insists that the government should rate the price of gas on a 40 percent average based on the international market instead of the current way, as the prices drop. García continued on with his speech, adding that fuel is important to the development of the country as it boosts public works and creates more jobs, helping save the country from the international financial crisis.