Chances are, if you work for a large company, you received an email like one sent to Volkswagen employees Monday: Coronavirus concerns mean some limits on business travel, everyone should remember to “wash your hands frequently” and stay home if sick.
As the viral illness, dubbed COVID-19, continues to spread, some employers are canceling conferences and limiting travel, checking supplies and dusting off their emergency preparedness plans, just as they have for previous outbreaks or for natural disasters, such as hurricanes or earthquakes.
All workplaces, say corporate benefit and health experts, should have plans that focus on preparation, not fear. Currently, cases of COVID-19 are still rare in the U.S. — far fewer than seasonal influenza cases.