To prevent swine flu spreading 22% plan to ban non-essential travel and 16% would shut down their workplace altogether.
Almost three-quarters of UK employers (72%) have reported absences due to the swine flu virus and 38% believe they will lose revenue as the disease spreads but, given the economic circumstances, 49% claim swine flu is only one of a number of priorities being faced by their organisation.
The research from law firm Eversheds shows 87% of employers have increased hygiene measures around the workplace and 86% have got HR departments on the case, with HR policies including flexible working (28%), paid leave to contain infection (20%) and requiring infected staff to stay at home (70%).
But a quarter of employers see swine flu as a low priority and 13% have not given out information to staff about the disease or increased hygiene measures and 14% have not put any HR policies in place.
Martin Warren, head of employment law at Eversheds, said: "Our survey of HR professionals at the coal face of business reveals the majority of organisations are already feeling the impact of swine flu and are planning for further escalation this autumn.
"Given how quickly the illness can strike and spread, deciding to only tackle the problem when it becomes apparent could debilitate many organisations, particularly those with smaller workforces."
