Majority of Organizations Adjusting HR Policies to Deal With Swine Flu
Washington, D.C. – WorldatWork, a global human resources association, just released the results of its Web poll on employers’ preparations for a possible H1N1 pandemic. With 430 participants, the Web poll (results below) shows that a large majority (68 percent) of organizations are being proactive and are treating this as a potential health emergency. Some 19 percent are treating it like any other flu, 10 percent are taking a wait-and-see approach, while three percent are not even discussing it.
Source: WorldatWork web poll October 2009
In advance of an expected swine flu resurgence this fall, which of the following best describes your organization's HR-related actions to date, if any?
Votes
Being proactive. Looking at and/or adjusting HR policies; we are treating this as a potential health emergency.
67.7%
291
Not changing anything. We have decided to treat it like any other flu.
19.1%
82
Wait and see. We have decided to address the situation if/when it becomes an emergency.
10.0%
43
It has not been discussed.
3.3%
14
Total respondents: 430
“Employers are ensuring that workplace policies or practices are flexible enough so that employees with a contagious disease don’t feel pressure to report to work,” said Lenny Sanicola, benefits practice leader at WorldatWork. “Many are revising existing policies with an eye to better defending their workforce against a major outbreak.”
QuickQuestion is a poll conducted on the WorldatWork homepage on a hot topic in the field of total rewards: compensation, benefits, work-life, performance and recognition, development and career opportunities. Although the poll is non-scientific and respondents self-select, only WorldatWork members can access the poll and they are electronically prevented from voting more than once per poll. A typical WorldatWork member is a senior HR practitioner (i.e. employed at the manager/assistant director level and above, and has at least five years of experience in human resources or compensation). In addition, he or she is most frequently employed at the headquarters of a large company; 95 percent of the Fortune 500 companies employ a member of WorldatWork.
WorldatWork has created ‘Business Continuity Planning: A Guide for Total Rewards and HR Professionals,’ a free resource to help employers plan for higher than normal worker absenteeism that may result from the swine flu pandemic.
About Alliance for Work-Life Progress® Alliance for Work-Life Progress (www.awlp.org) is dedicated to advancing work-life as a business strategy integrating work, family and community. An entity of WorldatWork, AWLP defines and recognizes innovation and best practices, facilitates dialogue among various sectors and promotes work-life thought leadership.
About WorldatWork®
The Total Rewards Association
WorldatWork is a global human resources association focused on compensation, benefits, work-life and integrated total rewards to attract, motivate and retain a talented workforce. Founded in 1955, WorldatWork provides a network of more than 30,000 members and professionals in 75 countries with training, certification, research, conferences and community. It has offices in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Washington, D.C.
