COMPANY bosses should start making contingency plans to deal with the threatened swine flu pandemic, a Liverpool employment lawyer warned last night.

Health chiefs announced last week that more than 1,000 Merseysiders a day could be struck down with the virus at the height of the outbreak.

Andrew Cross, head of employment at Liverpool’s Brabners Chaffe Street, fears companies large and small could see production grind to a halt as swathes of their workforces are forced to take sick leave.

Firms should boost their hygiene facilities as well as require employees to report any flu-like symptoms, or if they have travelled through areas designated by the World Health Organisation as high risk.

And organisations should consider forcing employees hit with the flu strain – but recovered enough to fulfil their tasks – to work from home to keep disruption to a minimum.

Mr Cross told LDP Legal: “Businesses of all sizes should start making contingency plans to deal with the swine flu pandemic, following the Government’s warning that the number of people falling ill with the virus could soar to 100,000 a day by August.

“Companies should make sure they understand how an outbreak could affect their legal rights and responsibilities towards staff, customers and suppliers.