Akerman Senterfitt Won’t Charge Leave Time for Swine Flu Absences
Akerman Senterfitt has a new policy that encourages employees with the swine flu to stay home.
The law firm won’t make employees take leave time for absences related to the H1N1 flu, the Washington Post reports. Senior marketing manager Carolyn Cuppernull told the newspaper she used the policy to stay home to care for her 10-year-old daughter after she got the flu.
“I have a laptop and a BlackBerry,” Cuppernull told the Post. “I was able to attend a meeting telephonically and participate in online training with hardly a blip.”
Other law firms are trying other strategies. Foley Hoag has set up home offices in case flu become widespread, and it is passing out flu survival kits with hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes. Ropes & Gray arranged for special supplies of the drug Tamiflu for its employees, who will be able to get a Tamiflu prescription while they are healthy so they can take the drug when they have flu symptoms.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Swine Flu Requires Look at Workplace Disaster Policies”
