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

2. 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 “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 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%). 2

3. 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?
n = 413 3

4. 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
Note: 2009 data were collected in September of that year and specifically referenced the H1N1 flu virus. 4

5. 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
doing
Planning
to do
Not doing/
no plans
2013
2009
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% 3%
Developing an employee communication strategy related to the flu
68%
75%
10%
22% 4%
Monitoring the flu situation by following the guidance from the CDC, WHO, etc.
60%
84%
14%
12%
26%
Closing offices/units in affected regions in the U.S. and/or internationally 1% 0%
15%
99%
Note: (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%. 5

6. 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?
Already
doing
Planning
to do
Not doing/
no plans
2013
2009
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%
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%
22%
32%
Sending employees who come to work with flu- and cold-like symptoms home
68%
40%
19%
50%
13%
Note: (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. 6

7. 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
2013
2009
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%
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 1%
74%
52%
Note: (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. 7

8. 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?
Already
doing
Planning
to do
Not doing/
No plans
2013
2009
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
21% 4% 7%
87%
72%
Limiting business visitors from affected regions 3%
10%
94%
83%
Restricting employee business travel to and from regions where the flu epidemic is confirmed 5%
13%
92%
66%
Curtailing product shipments to/from affected regions in the U.S. and internationally 1%
98%
96%
Recalling expatriates in international locations when a high number of flu cases are confirmed in a particular country or region
99%
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

9. Demographics 9

10. Demographics: Organization Staff Size
Note. n = 434. Percentages do not equal 100% due to rounding. 10

11. Demographics: Organization Sector11

12. Demographics: 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
Education services 6%
Construction 4%
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Information 3%
Note: n = 415. Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple responses. 12

13. Demographics: Organization Industry (continued)
Percentage
Accommodation and food service 3%
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations
Utilities
Repair and maintenance 2%
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation service
Mining 1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Real estate and rental and leasing
Personal and laundry services 0%
Other 6%
Note: n = 415. Percentages do not total 100% due to multiple responses. 13

14. Demographics: Other
Does your organization have U.S.-based operations (business units) only, or does it operate multinationally?
Is your organization a single-unit organization or a multi-unit organization?
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%
U.S.-based operations only
77%
Multinational operations
23%
n = 422
n = 432
For multi-unit organizations, are HR policies and practices determined by the multi-unit headquarters, by each work location or by both?
What is the HR department/function for which you responded throughout this survey?
Corporate (companywide)
75%
Business unit/division
11%
Facility/location
14%
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%
n = 308
Note: n = 308. Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding. 14

15. 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 16

16. SHRM Survey Findings: Business Operations During the Current Flu Season
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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
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Katya Scanlan, SHRM Knowledge Center 17