SHRM Survey Findings: Business Operations During the Current Flu Season February 13, 2013

Key Findings Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 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 a moderate negative impact on their overall business operations. This is a slight improvement from 2009, when 64% of organizations indicated experiencing a moderate negative impact. Only 4% indicated the epidemic is having a large negative impact, and another 36% indicated no 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 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%).

How much of a negative impact do you think the flu epidemic will have on your organizations overall business operations this upcoming flu season? n = 413 Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM

Is your organization doing or planning to do anything to reduce the spread of the flu in your workplace for this upcoming flu season? n = 459 Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM Note: 2009 data were collected in September of that year and specifically referenced the H1N1 flu virus.

Already doing Planning to do Not doing/ no plans Educating employees on flu prevention measures (e.g., distributing information about the importance of hand washing, arranging for medical/health personnel to speak to employees) 85%89%8%11%7% * Informing employees not to come to work if they have flu and cold-like symptoms 82%74%9%23%9%3% Developing an employee communication strategy related to the flu 68%75%10%23%22%4% Monitoring the flu situation by following the guidance from the CDC, WHO, etc. 60%84%14%12%26%4% Closing offices/units in affected regions in the U.S. and/or internationally 1% 0%15%99%84% 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? Note: 2013 (n = ); 2009 (n = ). Respondents who answered not applicable were excluded from this analysis. Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding data were collected in September of that year and specifically referenced the H1N1 flu virus. An asterisk (*) indicates < 1%. Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM

Already doing Planning to do Not doing/ no plans Making hand sanitizer, other disinfectants, masks and other flu prevention tools readily available across the organization (e.g., in bathrooms, pantries) 93%84%4%12%3%4% Frequently disinfecting common areas in the office, such as bathrooms, door handles, elevator buttons, cafeterias, pantries. 82%73%9%16%10%11% Offering free seasonal flu vaccines to employees 77%59%1%9%22%32% Sending employees who come to work with flu- and cold-like symptoms home 68%40%19%50%13%10% 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 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 ? Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM

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) Already doing Planning to do Not doing/ no plans Setting up telecommuting options for employees or providing other measures to reduce mixing of employees at the workplace if there is a flu outbreak in your local area/region 32%26%8%32%60%42% Securing antiviral flu medication (e.g., Tamiflu) for employees (e.g., working with health care providers to ensure adequate medication supplies for employees) 31%25%2%16%67%59% Offering seasonal flu vaccines paid for by employees 25%32%1%16%74%52% 7 Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 2013 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 data were collected in September of that year and specifically referenced the H1N1 flu virus.

Already doing Planning to do Not doing/ No plans Implementing an alternative to business travel, such as use of video or audio conferencing 26%27%6%9%68%64% Restricting non-essential employee business travel in general 9%21%4%7%87%72% Limiting business visitors from affected regions 3%10%3%7%94%83% Restricting employee business travel to and from regions where the flu epidemic is confirmed 3%21%5%13%92%66% Curtailing product shipments to/from affected regions in the U.S. and internationally 1%3%1% 98%96% Recalling expatriates in international locations when a high number of flu cases are confirmed in a particular country or region 1%3%1%3%99%94% 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? Note: 2013 (n = 197 – 307); 2009 (n = 119 – 265). Respondents who answered not applicable were excluded from this analysis. Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding data were collected in September and specifically referenced the H1N1 flu virus. 8 Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 2013

Demographics 9 Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 2013

Demographics: Organization Staff Size Note. n = 434. Percentages do not equal 100% due to rounding. 10 Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 2013

Demographics: Organization Sector n = Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 2013

Demographics: Organization Industry Organization Industry Percentage Manufacturing22% Health care and social assistance15% Finance and insurance14% Professional, scientific and technical services13% Government agencies7% Transportation and warehousing7% Education services6% Construction4% Wholesale trade4% Retail trade4% Information3% Note: n = 415. Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple responses. 12 Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 2013

Demographics: Organization Industry (continued) Organization Industry Percentage Accommodation and food service3% Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations3% Utilities3% Repair and maintenance2% Arts, entertainment and recreation2% Administrative and support and waste management and remediation service 2% Mining1% Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting1% Real estate and rental and leasing1% Personal and laundry services0% Other6% Note: n = 415. Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple responses. 13 Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 2013

U.S.-based operations only 77% Multinational operations 23% Single-unit organization: An organization in which the location and the organization are one and the same 31% Multi-unit organization: An organization that has more than one location 69% Multi-unit headquarters determines HR policies and practices 48% Each work location determines HR policies and practices 4% A combination of both the work location and the multi-unit headquarters determines HR policies and practices 47% Is your organization a single-unit organization or a multi-unit organization? For multi-unit organizations, are HR policies and practices determined by the multi-unit headquarters, by each work location or by both? Does your organization have U.S.-based operations (business units) only, or does it operate multinationally? n = 422 n = 432 Note: n = 308. Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding. Corporate (companywide) 75% Business unit/division 11% Facility/location 14% n = 308 What is the HR department/function for which you responded throughout this survey? Demographics: Other 14 Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 2013

15 SHRM Survey Findings: Business Operations During the Current Flu Season 16 Response rate = 17% 467 HR professional respondents from a randomly selected sample of SHRMs membership Margin of error +/-4% Survey fielded January 17-25, 2013 Survey Methodology Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM 2013

For more survey/poll findings, visit For more information about SHRMs Customized Research Services, visit Follow us on Twitter SHRM Survey Findings: Business Operations During the Current Flu Season About 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 Business Operations During the Current Flu Season ©SHRM