In the face of a pandemic influenza threat, local health department employees' unwillingness to report to duty may pose a threat to the nation's emergency response infrastructure.

We therefore believe further efforts must be directed at ensuring that all local public health workers, but most notably non-clinical professional staff, understand in advance the importance of their role during an influenza pandemic -- otherwise they will fail to show up when they are most needed.

These data offer a current, evidence-based window into the needs of public health workers who would serve as a backbone of locally-driven emergency response in an influenza pandemic setting.

Wal-Mart fails to address the key reasons more than half of its employees aren't covered under their health care plan _ ridiculously high deductible costs and overly strict eligibility requirements,

He's thrilled. The employees are thrilled. The health-care center is happy.

That's one of the benefits we give all our employees. They're in the (state) pension system, and they have health benefits ? they're in the state plan.