Pandemic Pandemonium; Deacons Partner Invites Staff to Wear Office Face Masks

With the World Health Organisation playing down the threat posed by the swine flu, Deacons partner Michael Tooma has apparently been urging staff to don the kleenex and do a Howard Hughes.

Tooma, a Deacons partner practising in occupational health and safety, suggested in an hilariously alarmist dialogue with the Australian Financial Review that employers should:

• inform staff about their [pandemic] preparedness through… communication;
• reinforce hygiene messages;
• check the adequacy of the filters on ventilation systems;
• make sure they have antibacterial hand soaps; and
• stock up on face masks.

Yet, when asked about what employers should do if the pandemic strikes Australia, and whether worried employees would be able to work from home, Tooma said:

if employees are concerned about their own safety, mere apprehension alone is not a justifiable reason to stay away from work.

By all means wear a face mask, just make sure you come to work!  Hmm, does the Spy detect a pattern developing in which Deacons capitalises upon the social ailments of the day?  We may have a new Gold Star to award.

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