Free New e-Learning Course Improves Businesses' Readiness for H1N1 by over
60%

    
    Companies track, measure and confirm whatemployees know and what they
    still need to learn.
    
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<p><location>ST. JOHN'S</location>, <chron>Nov. 16</chron> /CNW/ - In the first few days of its release, a free new e-learning resource is showing it can significantly increase businesses' preparedness for H1N1, or the swine flu as it is often called. The program, called H1N1 in the Workplace, is a 15-minute course that includes a pre-test and post-test to measure and improve the readiness of any organization's employees and managers.</p>
<p>In the first 10 days of its release, the program saw the average score for those doing the Manager's course improve by 67%, while the average score for the Employee's course improved by 57%. Employees and managers finishing the course, scored around 87% in the post test.</p>
<p>This increase in readiness comes at the same time that numerous reports suggest companies are generally far from prepared to prevent or address a major H1N1 outbreak. In an Angus Reid Strategies nationwide survey of American workers in late September, 69% of respondents said they had received no communication about H1N1 policies in the workplace - not even information related to hand washing or sick leave.(1) In October, a survey by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters association (CME) found that 87% of companies have no business continuity plans for a flu pandemic.(2) And also in October, Canadian Business released a Compas Inc. poll showing only 17% of CEOs and business leaders reported that employers were "taking significantly more precaution than normal to deal with the outbreak," and less than 50% saying they are "taking 'somewhat more' precautionary measures than normal, such as increased monitoring of employees and sending them home at the earliest sign of flu-like symptoms."(3)</p>
<p>Emad Rizkalla is President of Bluedrop Performance Learning, the company that created the course. He voices real concern about the seeming lack of preparedness for many businesses. "We all hope that H1N1 never becomes the threat that some feel it could be," he says. "But it's concerning to see businesses betting their wellbeing, and that of their employees, on that being the case. Various government sources say that 15 to 35% of the workforce could be out if a pandemic does hit. Yes some companies are posting Internet links, holding meetings and putting up posters. But are employees really learning what to do? Bluedrop's H1N1 course sorts fact from fiction. Managers have been able to track who has taken the course, who has the necessary knowledge, and who needs more training. Removing uncertainty can help stop the spread of H1N1, not to mention the spread of apathy, fear or ignorance."</p>
<p>The H1N1 in the Workplace course, available at <a href="http://www.coursepark.com/h1n1">www.coursepark.com/h1n1</a>, lets companies see and improve in minutes their employees' level of preparedness:</p>
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    - Far beyond just distributing brochures or displaying posters, it allows
      companies to measure how ready employees are for H1N1, and correct any
      vulnerabilities that might remain.
    - Managers easily distribute the course to all employees by email in
      minutes.
    - The detailed tracking system lets managers see exactly which workers
      complete the course and the scores obtained.
    - The course, including a pre-test and post-test, can typically be
      completed in 10 to 15 minutes.
    - The course is non-technical, covering the key points without bogging
      down or overwhelming busy workers.
    
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<p>One company that has embraced CoursePark's H1N1 course is Minneapolis-based Four51,(4) an on-demand Smart Catalog Technology company. Four51 is promoting the course to the thousands of companies -- and their millions of users -- using its online catalogs. Jim Lahner, Four51's VP Marketing, Customer Service, Supplier Programs, sees the H1N1 training as an important service for his company to offer to its clients. "Our focus has always been on leveraging technology to drive greater profitability for our clients. We immediately saw this course as being very consistent with that vision. It allows companies to quickly understand how they can better care for their people and get the message out to all their employees, no matter where they're located." He added, "This is important for us as a company. No matter how impressive the technology gets, or how focused we may be on driving our clients profits, behind it all, the first rule is still to take care of people. This course is just one more way that Four51 does exactly that."</p>
<p>And as Trish McFarlane, a leading HR blogger in <location>St. Louis</location> noted, "You may think you know everything you need to from television, radio, or articles you have read. I assure you, you are probably not prepared. Even after attempting to educate myself, when I took the CoursePark training, I still learned facts about H1N1 that I was not aware of."(5)</p>
<p>H1N1 in the Workplace was developed by Bluedrop Performance Learning with medical direction from <person>Dr. Bill Bavington</person>, a leading Canadian epidemiologist and <person>Dr. Charlie Easmon</person>, Medical Director of Number One Health in Great Britain. The course leverages the functionality of CoursePark, a new online Learning Management Network that uses the power of online communities to connect trainers, learners, businesses, and course providers.</p>
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<p>Bluedrop Performance Learning is an award-winning company that has developed e-learning and training solutions for global leaders in business and government, including Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Schering Plough, GE, General Dynamics, McGraw Hill, Prentice Hall, RBC, Manulife, the Public Health Agency of <location>Canada</location>, and the US Department of Defense. Bluedrop has five offices in the <location>United States</location> and <location>Canada</location>. CoursePark is the service launched by Bluedrop to help track and manage the delivery of the H1N1 course. More information is available at <a href="http://www.coursepark.com/h1n1">www.coursepark.com/h1n1</a>.</p>
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    (1) http://mcipr.com/?page_id=57
    (2) http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Pandemic+planning+priority+business+survey/1744161/story.html
    (3) http://www.canadianbusiness.com/managing/ceo-poll/article.jsp?content=20091026_10013_10013
    (4) http://public.four51.com
    (5) http://hrringleader.com/2009/11/04/h1n1-it-came-to-my-house
    

For further information: or to arrange an interview with Emad Rizkalla: Lorne Pike, Director Corporate Solutions, CoursePark, [phone] ext 663, [phone] ext 663, [email protected]