2013 flu preparation final

SHRM Survey Findings:
Business Operations During the Current Flu Season

February 13, 2013

Key Findings

 Is the current flu epidemic having a negative impact on organizations’ overall business
operations? More than one-half (60%) of organizations indicated that the current flu epidemic
is having “no negative impact” on their overall business operations. This is an improvement
from 2009, when only one-third (33%) of organization indicated experiencing “no negative
impact.” Only 4% indicated the epidemic is having a “large negative impact,” and another
36% indicated a “moderate negative impact.”

 Are organizations taking or planning to take actions to reduce the spread of the flu this
season? Yes. Nearly three-quarters of organizations (72%) are taking steps to reduce the
spread of the flu in the workplace, slightly fewer than in 2009.

 How are organizations communicating with employees about reducing the spread of the flu
this season? A majority of organizations are educating employees on flu prevention measures
(85%), informing employees not to come to work if they have flu- or cold-like symptoms
(82%), and developing an employee communication strategy related to the flu (68%).

 What are organizations doing with respect to prevention to reduce the spread of the flu this
season? Nearly all organizations (93%) indicated they are making hand sanitizer, other
disinfectants, masks and other flu prevention tools readily available across the organization. A
large majority of organizations indicated frequently disinfecting common areas in the office
(82%) and offering free seasonal flu vaccines to employees (77%). Approximately, one-quarter
of organizations (26%) are implementing an alternative to business travel, such as use of video
or audio conferencing, and a few organizations are restricting non-essential employee
business travel (9%).

Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 2013 2

How much of a negative impact do you think the flu
epidemic will have on your organization’s overall business
operations this upcoming flu season?

60%
No negative impact
33%

36%
A moderate negative impact
64%

4%
A large negative impact
3%

2012 2009
n = 464 n = 413

Note: 2009 data were collected in September of that year and specifically referenced the H1N1 flu virus.


Is your organization doing or planning to do anything to
reduce the spread of the flu in your workplace for this
upcoming flu season?

72%
Yes
82%

28%
No
18%

2012 2009
n = 459 n = 444

Note: 2009 data were collected in September of that year and specifically referenced the H1N1 flu virus.


In regards to communication, what is your organization
doing or planning to do to reduce the spread of the flu in
your workplace for this upcoming flu season?

Already Planning Not doing/
doing to do no plans

2013 2009 2013 2009 2013 2009

Educating employees on flu prevention
measures (e.g., distributing information about the
importance of hand washing, arranging for 85% 89% 8% 11% 7% *
medical/health personnel to speak to
employees)

Informing employees not to come to work if they
82% 74% 9% 23% 9% 3%
have flu and cold-like symptoms
Developing an employee communication
68% 75% 10% 23% 22% 4%
strategy related to the flu
Monitoring the flu situation by following the
60% 84% 14% 12% 26% 4%
guidance from the CDC, WHO, etc.

Closing offices/units in affected regions in the
1% 1% 0% 15% 99% 84%
U.S. and/or internationally

Note: 2013 (n = 197-307); 2009 (n = 236-335 ). Respondents who answered “not applicable” were excluded from this analysis. Percentages
may not equal 100% due to rounding. 2009 data were collected in September of that year and specifically referenced the H1N1 flu virus.
An asterisk (*) indicates < 1%.

In regards to prevention and wellness, what is your
organization doing or planning to do to reduce the spread of
the flu in your workplace for this upcoming flu season?


2013 2009 2013 2009 2013 2009

Making hand sanitizer, other disinfectants, masks
and other flu prevention tools readily available
93% 84% 4% 12% 3% 4%
across the organization (e.g., in bathrooms,
pantries)
Frequently disinfecting common areas in the
office, such as bathrooms, door handles, elevator 82% 73% 9% 16% 10% 11%
buttons, cafeterias, pantries.

Offering free seasonal flu vaccines to employees 77% 59% 1% 9% 22% 32%

Sending employees who come to work with flu-
68% 40% 19% 50% 13% 10%
and cold-like symptoms home

Note: 2013 (n = 197 – 307); 2009 (n = 135 – 337). Respondents who answered “not applicable” were excluded from this analysis.
Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding. 2009 data were collected in September of that year and specifically referenced the
H1N1 flu virus.


In regards to prevention and wellness, what is your organization
doing or planning to do to reduce the spread of the flu in your
workplace for this upcoming flu season? (continued)


2013 2009 2013 2009 2013 2009

Setting up telecommuting options for employees
or providing other measures to reduce mixing of
32% 26% 8% 32% 60% 42%
employees at the workplace if there is a flu
outbreak in your local area/region

Securing antiviral flu medication (e.g., Tamiflu) for
employees (e.g., working with health care
31% 25% 2% 16% 67% 59%
providers to ensure adequate medication supplies
for employees)

Offering seasonal flu vaccines paid for by
25% 32% 1% 16% 74% 52%
employees

Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding. 2009 data were collected in September of that year and specifically referenced the
H1N1 flu virus.


In regards to travel, what is your organization doing or
planning to do to reduce the spread of the flu in your
workplace for this upcoming flu season?

doing to do No plans

2013 2009 2013 2009 2013 2009

Implementing an alternative to business travel,
26% 27% 6% 9% 68% 64%
such as use of video or audio conferencing
Restricting non-essential employee business travel
9% 21% 4% 7% 87% 72%
in general
Limiting business visitors from affected regions 3% 10% 3% 7% 94% 83%
Restricting employee business travel to and from
3% 21% 5% 13% 92% 66%
regions where the flu epidemic is confirmed
Limiting business visitors from affected regions 2% 10% 4% 7% 94% 83%
Curtailing product shipments to/from affected
1% 3% 1% 1% 98% 96%
regions in the U.S. and internationally
Recalling expatriates in international locations
when a high number of flu cases are confirmed in 1% 3% 1% 3% 99% 94%
a particular country or region
Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding. 2009 data were collected in September and specifically referenced the H1N1 flu
virus.


Demographics


Demographics: Organization Staff Size

1 to 99 24%

100 to 499 38%

500 to 2,499 16%

2,500 to 24,999 17%

25,000+ 4%

Note. n = 434. Percentages do not equal 100% due to rounding.


Demographics: Organization Sector

Publicly owned for-profit 38%

Privately owned for-profit 37%

Nonprofit organization 14%

Government agency 11%

n = 391


Demographics: Organization Industry

Organization Industry Percentage

Manufacturing 22%

Health care and social assistance 15%

Finance and insurance 14%

Professional, scientific and technical services 13%

Government agencies 7%

Transportation and warehousing 7%

Education services 6%

Construction 4%

Wholesale trade 4%

Retail trade 4%

Information 3%
Note: n = 415. Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple responses.


Demographics: Organization Industry (continued)

Organization Industry Percentage

Accommodation and food service 3%

Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations 3%

Utilities 3%

Repair and maintenance 2%

Arts, entertainment and recreation 2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation
2%
service
Mining 1%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 1%

Real estate and rental and leasing 1%

Personal and laundry services 0%

Other 6%
Note: n = 415. Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple responses.


Demographics: Other

Does your organization have U.S.-based Is your organization a single-unit organization or
operations (business units) only, or does it a multi-unit organization?
operate multinationally? Single-unit organization: An organization in
U.S.-based operations only 77% which the location and the organization 31%
are one and the same
Multinational operations 23%
Multi-unit organization: An organization
n = 422 69%
that has more than one location
n = 432

For multi-unit organizations, are HR policies and
What is the HR department/function for which practices determined by the multi-unit
you responded throughout this survey? headquarters, by each work location or by both?
Corporate (companywide) 75% Multi-unit headquarters determines HR
48%
policies and practices
Business unit/division 11%
Each work location determines HR policies
4%
Facility/location 14% and practices
n = 308 A combination of both the work location
and the multi-unit headquarters 47%
determines HR policies and practices
Note: n = 308. Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding.


SHRM Survey Findings:
Business Operations During the Current Flu Season

Survey Methodology

• Response rate = 17%
• 467 HR professional respondents from a randomly selected sample of SHRM’s
membership
• Margin of error +/-4%
• Survey fielded January 17-25, 2013

15


SHRM Survey Findings: Business Operations During the
Current Flu Season

About SHRM Research

• For more survey/poll findings, visit www.shrm.org/surveys

• For more information about SHRM’s Customized Research Services, visit
www.shrm.org/customizedresearch

• Follow us on Twitter @SHRM_Research

Project leader:
Rob Boyd, survey research analyst, SHRM Research

Project contributors:
Alexander Alonso, Ph.D., SPHR, vice president, SHRM Research
Evren Esen, manager, SHRM Research

Copy Editor:
Katya Scanlan, SHRM Knowledge Center


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