# Presentation: 912965

## Emergency Hiring During a Pandemic Health Crisis (FAA20300031)

**Options During an Avian Flu Pandemic**

## Overview of Today’s Presentation

**Avian flu and potential impact for employers**
**FAA’s emergency hiring flexibilities**

## Pandemic Avian Influenza

**Jay Aul, Manager, **
**HR ATO Support Team, Office of Human Resource Management, AHR-4**

## Overview of Pandemic Avian Influenza

***Seasonal (or common) flu***** is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available.**
***Pandemic flu***** is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness.**

## Current Concern:  H5N1

***Avian (or bird) flu***** is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. **
**The H5N1 variant is deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds to humans. **
**There is no human immunity and no vaccine is available.**

## Pandemic Influenza

**Pandemic Influenza is not new to the U.S.**
**We had three pandemics in the 20****th**** Century.**

## 20th Century Flu Pandemics

**1918-1919 “Spanish Flu”**
- U.S....675,000+
- Worldwide...50,000,000+
**1957-1958 “Asian Flu”**
- U.S....70,000+
- Worldwide...1-2,000,000
**1968-1969 “Hong Kong Flu”**
- U.S....34,000+
- Worldwide...700,000+

## Characteristics & challenges of a pandemic

**Rapid Worldwide Spread **
**Health Care Systems Overloaded **
**Medical Supplies Inadequate**
**Economic and Social Disruption**

## Meaning for Employers

**Expect 40% of workforce could be out due to pandemic at any one time**
**Cannot predict where it will be... a few places or several**
**Would occur in waves of several weeks duration**
**Would go on for about 18 months or so**
**Some employees will not return to work**

## How do we meet agency mission in that situation?

**Plan in advance**
**Focus on essential functions**
**Use the resources available**
**Modify how we do business to fit the situation**
**Need to use several strategies to continue essential functions**

## Some Strategies to Continue Work

**Use telework**
**Use flexible work schedules**
**Cross-train employees/ensure people have backups**
**Overtime & credit hours**
**Use the temporary and permanent hiring flexibilities**

## Emergency Hiring Flexibilities

**Pam Warren**
**Office of Human Resources Policy Management Division, AHP-300**

## Temporary External Hiring

**Competitive  **
**Non-competitive appointments**
- Up to 1 year
- Extend for 1 year
**Student Hires**
**Re-employed Annuitants**

## On-the-Spot Hiring

**Outstanding scholars**
**Interns**
**Hard-to-Fill positions**

## Current and Former Employees

**Reassignments**
**Reinstatements**

## Appointments Leading to Non-Competitive Conversion

**Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA)**
**30% Disabled Veterans**
**Student Hires**
**Individuals with Disabilities**

## Upcoming SST broadcasts - Mark your Calendars!

- June 20-21	Alternate Work Schedules & Comp Time Travel
- Aug  15-16	Mid-Term Bargaining under FAA Order 3710.18
**Want to view past SST broadcasts?**
- Go to:	http://www.academy.faa.gov/intranet/vod/sst.asp
_**Topics covered include**_**:   Performance Management Managing Leave Problems;  Accountability Board;  Dealing with Medical Issues in the Workplace;  Management Inquiry Tool Kit for FAA Managers;  Conduct & Discipline and Reasonable Accommodation;  Labor Relations Statue; Merit Systems & Prohibited Personnel Practices;  OWCP;  Staffing - What Key Points Do I need to Know;  Managerial Workforce Planning**

**Questions on SST?  **
**Please contact your local Training Program Manager in the Human Resource Management Office.**