30 days ago
BANGOR (NEWS CENTER) -- While Maine isn't seeing a widespread outbreak of swine flu, officials say that could change at any time, and businesses should be ready if it happens.
Next week, Eastern Maine Development Corporation is holding a conference on how businesses should be getting ready. They'll discuss financial planning, personnel planning, and how the plan is communicated.
"You need to think about your employees. You need to think about your customers. You need to think about your vendors and your business partners that you usually work with on a day to day basis," said Elizabeth Sutherland, of Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications.
Conference organizers say each business will have a different plan, based on what they do. They also say in some cases it will only take a few people to develop the plan, but at larger businesses it may take more people to make sure all of the departments are accounted for and informed.
"Generally if people feel ready then when the change happens, they say, 'Oh I planned for that, I know what I'm going to do. I have it written down. I have some steps I can take.' And that gives you a sense of control and that helps everybody," said Patty Hamilton, of Bangor's Health Department.
The conference, which is free, is Tuesday, October 27 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Spectacular Events Center in Bangor. To register you can call EMDC at 942-6389.
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