Coworkers should remain home if infected with H1N1 flu virus, says majority of Americans

Oct 20 2009

91 per cent of Americans said they want their co-workers to remain at home if they are infected with the H1N1 flu virus according to a national survey released today by Mansfield Communications. And if you are considering going into work with the flu or symptoms of, 83 per cent of your co-workers say they are likely to inform a fellow colleague or senior management about a colleague in their workplace whom they think might be showing symptoms of the flu.

The survey, commissioned by Mansfield Communications Inc., interviewed 2,029 Americans with a subset of 1,232 full time and part time working Americans from October 5^th 2009 through October 11^th, 2009. It was intended to continue to gauge the readiness of workers and their employers for the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic. The margin of error is +/- 2.2%, 19 times out of 20.

“As the number of people infected with H1N1 continues to grow, parallel fear escalates and the potential for mob mentality begins to take shape,” said Rob Ireland, partner at Mansfield Communications Inc. “By having clear and definitive H1N1 policies & procedures in place and by becoming a trusted source of related information, leading companies can truly take care of their greatest asset – their employees.”

According to a survey conducted last month by Mansfield Communications, 69 per cent of workers said they had received no communication about policies in the workplace pertaining to H1N1. The poll also found that a large majority (84%) of American workers believe the recession creates more pressure to show up for work— even if they are feeling sick.

Approximately half (47%) of the respondents said that they would still engage in public activities (such as riding the bus, picking up a prescription or grocery shopping) even when they were infected with H1N1 and required to stay home from their office due to a company-imposed quarantine.

However the most current findings indicate awareness about the serious nature of the virus is on the rise as workers show concern for containing the spread of H1N1.

Added Ireland: “Employers need to be vigilant in maintaining open communication with their employees during flu season and monitoring employee compliance with the organization’s sick leave policy.”

Additional Survey Findings:

• 94 percent of women believed that coworkers should not come into the office if infected with the H1N1 flu virus, while fewer men (88%) felt the same way.
• 84% of respondents between the ages 18-54 were likely to report a colleague who had symptoms of the flu. While fewer respondents ages 55+ and older (77%) were likely to report their coworkers’ for being ill at the office.