This Week's Herman Trend Alert Cyberbullying---a Growing Problem

The Herman Trend Alert May 6, 2009 Swine Flu, the Global Threat Sometime in the early 1990s, Joyce attended a briefing delivered by the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC). The speaker talked about the future of infectious disease and painted a somewhat frightening picture. He talked about the mobility of our society and the potential for pandemics, based on the already-identified viruses. Between Mad Cow Disease, Bird Flu, and now Swine Flu, some of those forecasts have become a disturbing reality. Until recently, the swine flu in humans was not common. What we are apparently dealing with now is a new and more virulent strain of disease called "influenza A virus subtype H1N1". This new, dangerous illness is a mixture of the genetic material of four similar influenza viruses: one human, one avian, and two swine. This new strain seemingly passes with ease from human to human. The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 strain, comparable to normal influenza, are fever, coughing, and headache. The near-term future will bring an announcement that the disease has reached global pandemic proportions. This situation will affect many areas of our lives at a time when we can ill afford another blow to our ability to conduct business. It will negatively affect travel and hospitality, reduce attendance at conferences, and disrupt business in general. Manufacturers of disinfectants, even disinfectant soaps, will have difficulty keeping up with the demand for their products, as people scramble to protect themselves and their families. Cleaning services will have an excellent year, as will Roche Holding AG, the manufacturers of Tamiflu, an antiviral drug that appears to reduce the virulence of the H1N1 infection. Once the vaccine is developed, other pharmaceutical companies will spring into action to manufacture large quantities of the shots for inoculation. Moreover, keeping everybody safe will add a tremendous amount of time to peoples' work schedules, especially those of childcare workers and teachers. The focus on personal hygiene will be a significant trend. Wise employers will encourage frequent hand-washing, posting signs to reinforce media's messages. The emergence of swine flu is a wildcard that will affect all of us around the world and add to the stress people are already experiencing. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." DISCOVER WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON... in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. MOM ALWAYS TAUGHT IT WAS GOOD TO SHARE You have probably subscribed to The Herman Trend Alert for a while now and you know how valuable it is to you. Why not suggest that your friends sign up at http://www.hermantrendalert.com? Join the thousands who subscribe in 87 countries around the globe. Are there particular topics you'd like to see covered? Let us know and we will research "The Future of. . .". And let us know how else we may serve you? E-mail: joyce@hermangroup.com. YOUR EMPLOYEES NEED THEIR LEADERS MORE THAN EVER Help your leaders to excel. Thousands have used our weekly Lessons in Leadership to help their supervisors and managers remember how to hold onto top talent. The 52-week subscription is only $47, a bargain when you think about the savings to your organization in reduced turnover. Quantity discounts available by emailing Carol at carol@hermangroup.com. Order today at: http://www.hermangroup.com/store/subscription_all.html#3. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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