With cases of swine flu on the increase, recruiters could be pivotal in providing companies with highly skilled staff in certain areas.

Kate Harris, commercial director of specialist healthcare staffing agency PULSE, told Recruiter that the temporary workforce will have a vital role to play in tackling an increase in demand for healthcare services if the swine flu outbreak reaches the pandemic stage.  

“The health service has responded to the potential threat by launching the first stage of its contingency plans and PULSE is working closely with a number of NHS Trusts to identify the resources available to them ahead of a potential crisis.

“In the event of the outbreak reaching pandemic stage, NHS Trusts will not only need to plan for an increase in admissions but will also need to consider the impact of a potential increase in staff sickness and absenteeism.  Temporary workers will play a vital role in supporting the NHS through these challenges.”

And HR recruiters will also be required to ensure companies are staffed with the correct absence management skills, according to Mitch Sonariwo, director at Chamberlin HR.

“It is unfortunate but situations like this highlight companies that have a poor absence management in place.

“Managing your absence and having an absence policy in place could really affect your bottom line.

“You would be looking at HR professionals with operational experience. You are looking at absence management skills and developing management reports systems.”

Hugo Tucker, director at Bullet Search, adds: “Part of this will be about the information you hold on people and how organised your HR department has been to get that. I doubt many companies will have policies specific to swine flu. It will fall on HR’s already burdened shoulders.”