Presentation Transcript

1. SHRM Poll: The H1N1 Virus—How Prepared Is Your Workplace?

   October 15, 2009
2. Definition The virus commonly known as the swine flu or swine influenza is referred to as the H1N1 virus throughout this presentation.
3. What are companies doing in anticipation of the H1N1’s impact on the workplace this flu season?
4. Summary: Top strategies and programs organizations are already implementing or planning to do to reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus in the workplace for this flu season Top strategies and programs currently being implemented: Educating employees on flu prevention measures = 89% Monitoring the H1N1 virus situation by following the guidance from the CDC, WHO, etc. = 84% Making hand sanitizer, other disinfectants, masks and other flu prevention tools readily available across the organization = 84% Developed an employee communication strategy related to the H1N1 virus = 75% Informing employees not to come to work if they have flu- and cold-like symptoms = 74% Frequently disinfecting common areas in the workplace = 73% Planned (have not done yet, but plan to do) top strategies and programs: Sending employees who come to work with flu- and cold-like symptoms home = 50% Setting up telecommuting options for employees if there is an H1N1 virus outbreak in local area/region = 32% Informing employees not to come to work if they have flu- and cold-like symptoms = 23% Securing anti-viral flu medication (e.g., Tamiflu) for employees (e.g., working with health care providers to ensure adequate medication supplies for employees) = 16%
5. Strategies and programs organizations are already implementing to reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus in the workplace for this upcoming flu season: September 2009 compared with May 2009 Note: “Not applicable” responses were excluded from this analysis. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. “--” in cell indicates that this option was not available in May 2009.
6. Strategies and programs organizations are already implementing to reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus in the workplace for this upcoming flu season: September 2009 compared with May 2009 (continued) Note: “Not applicable” responses were excluded from this analysis. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. “--” in cell indicates that this option was not available in May 2009.
7. Strategies and programs organizations are already implementing to reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus in the workplace for this upcoming flu season: September 2009 compared with May 2009 (continued) Note: “Not applicable” responses were excluded from this analysis. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. “--” in cell indicates that this option was not available in May 2009.
8. Strategies and programs organizations are already implementing to reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus in the workplace for this upcoming flu season: September 2009 compared with May 2009 (continued) Note: “Not applicable” responses were excluded from this analysis. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
9. Is your organization planning to offer H1N1 vaccine to employees once available? Note: Percentages are based on “Yes” responses.
10. How much of a negative impact do you think the H1N1 epidemic will have on your organization’s overall business operations? Differences by organization staff size: Small-staff-sized organizations (47%) were more likely than medium- (27%) and large-staff-sized organizations (31%) to report that the H1N1 epidemic will have no negative impact on their overall business operations. Medium-staff-sized companies (71%) were more likely than small-staff-sized companies (52%) to report a moderate negative impact on their overall business operations. Note: Only significant differences are presented.
11. Does your organization have a disaster preparedness plan in place (e.g., a plan for what to do in case of an emergency or disaster) that would go into effect if there were to be an H1N1 virus outbreak, during this flu season, in a region where your company has offices/business units? Difference by organizational sector: Publicly owned for-profit organizations (82%) and nonprofit organizations (73%) were more likely than privately owned for-profit organizations (53%) to have a disaster preparedness plan in place. Differences by organization staff size: Respondents from large- (82%) and medium-staff-sized organizations (62%) were more likely than those from small-staff-sized organizations (44%) to report their organization had a disaster preparedness plan. Differences by organization operations location: Organizations with multinational operations (74%) were more likely to report that they had a disaster preparedness plan than organizations based only in the United States (59%). Note: Only significant differences are presented.
12. What is included in your disaster preparedness plan? Components of disaster preparedness plan: Emergency communication plan 99% of respondents reported that an emergency communication plan was part of their organization’s disaster preparedness plan. Business continuity plan 97% indicated a business continuity plan was a feature of their disaster preparedness plan. Note: Only respondents who indicated that their organizations had a disaster preparedness plan in place answered this question.“Not sure” responses were excluded from this analysis.
13. Most companies do not plan to modify their paid leave policies during this flu season
14. Summary: Top leave policies organization modified or are planning to modify for this flu season Top leave (i.e., paid time off, sick, vacation, etc.) policies already modified: Requiring a medical statement that an employee who has been sick is able to return to work = 20% Having a relaxed or modified leave policy specifically for persons in defined high-risk groups for H1N1 complications = 7% Implementing sick leave/PTO donation program = 5% Planned modifications to leave (i.e., paid time off, sick, vacation, etc.) policies: Having a relaxed or modified leave policy specifically for persons in defined high-risk groups for H1N1 complications = 20% Requiring a medical statement that an employee who has been sick is able to return to work= 19% Adding extra days to paid time off (PTO) or paid sick leave banks for employees to use this upcoming flu season = 9%
15. Has your organization modified or is it planning to modify its leave (i.e., paid time off, sick, vacation, etc.) policy for this flu season? Note: “Not applicable” responses were excluded from this analysis.
16. Demographics: Organization Industry Note: (n=403) Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
17. Demographics: Organization Industry (continued) Note: (n=403) Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
18. Demographics: Organization Sector Note: (n=403)
19. Demographics: Organization Staff Size Note: (n=399)
20. Demographics: Organization Region Note: (n=388)
21. Demographics: Organization Operations Location Note: (n=399)
22. SHRM Poll: The H1N1 Virus—How Prepared Is Your Workplace? Methodology Response rate = 17% Sample comprised of 413 randomly selected HR professionals from SHRM’s membership Margin of error is +/- 4 Survey fielded September 15–September 28, 2009
23. Links to Additional Resources: SHRM resources page on the H1N1 influenza virus SHRM's H1N1 Pandemic Checklist Preventive Health Advisory Board: Comprehensive Steps for 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus Prevention