Swine Flu, cancellations, what to do... Options

[tasha.t]

Hi everyone,

We all received letters from schools yesterday about the increasing amount of swine flu around and I wondered what people were going to do if and when there is a nasty outbreak (nastier then now I mean).

If a student rings to say they have got swine flu, been in contact with swine flu, do we close down, if so, for how long?

Do we charge for cancellations from students who have swine flu? We won't be paid if we get swine flu.

Could be a very dodgy autumn this year along with the credit crunch as well!

Tasha
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[Dugazon]

I'll treat it like any other flu and will use the same discretion in severe cases that involve longer-term illness, hospitalisation etc.

In all other cases, my normal T&Cs will be in place, and the normal cancellation notice periods will apply. Otherwise, everyone who suffers a minor cold will suddenly "probably come down with swine flu" and expect not to pay for last minute cancellations.

If I should catch it myself (hopefully not), I will close down until I am fully recoverd and not contagious anymore, hoping I haven't already given it to too many people coming down with it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)
I usually do this anyway when I am ill (not passing it on I mean, but closing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ), so I won't make a difference here - the financial loss is the risk you take as a self-employed person, but I certainly won't put my own and other people's health at risk. I don't think there's much else to do ...

[Lone Ranger]

I'll treat it like any other flu and will use the same discretion in severe cases that involve longer-term illness, hospitalisation etc.

In all other cases, my normal T&Cs will be in place, and the normal cancellation notice periods will apply. Otherwise, everyone who suffers a minor cold will suddenly "probably come down with swine flu" and expect not to pay for last minute cancellations.

If I should catch it myself (hopefully not), I will close down until I am fully recoverd and not contagious anymore, hoping I haven't already given it to too many people coming down with it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)
I usually do this anyway when I am ill (not passing it on I mean, but closing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ), so I won't make a difference here - the financial loss is the risk you take as a self-employed person, but I certainly won't put my own and other people's health at risk. I don't think there's much else to do ...

On the news today, the medical view was that most people who get it are likely to be so mild that they may not even be aware. So the above is a very sound way to approach the situation. I know people have died etc but the overwhelming majority are those with underlying problems. As a diabetes sufferer myself, I guess I'll be offered the inoculation along with my normal winter flu jab. All teachers should be entitled to it in my view, regardless of medical history.

LR