New Flu Poll: Employees Avoid Each Other To Prevent Flu, Yet Almost One-Third Not Changing Behavior

Main Category: Swine Flu
Article Date: 20 Oct 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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As flu season is fast reaching its peak, public health messages urging flu prevention are taking hold among workers, with more than 70 percent saying they've changed their behavior, according to a Tell It Now(SM) survey released from ComPsych Corporation. Almost half of employees have adopted an "avoidance" strategy, forgoing handshakes and the touching of workplace surfaces in order to stay healthy. ComPsych is the nation's leading provider of employee assistance programs (EAPs) and the worldwide leader in GuidanceResources (EAPs, behavioral health, wellness, work-life and crisis intervention services).

"The workplace is an essential environment for encouraging people to stay healthy," said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, Chairman and CEO of ComPsych. "While the survey results are a good indication that employees are responding to public health advice, employers should take note of the nearly 30 percent who are not inclined to change health behavior even in the face of a pandemic."

Poll Results: H1N1 Flu and Behavior

Has H1N1 (swine) flu made you more careful about protecting your health this year? If so, where is your primary focus?

-- Yes, I am more likely to wash my hands/avoid touching people or workplace surfaces - 47 percent

-- Yes, I am more inclined to get a flu shot - 16 percent

-- Yes, I am more likely to stay home/keep family members home if there are flu symptoms - 8 percent

-- No, my habits haven't changed 29 percent

About ComPsych

Founded in 1984, ComPsych is the world's largest provider of global employee assistance programs (EAPs) and is the pioneer and leading provider of fully integrated EAP, behavioral health, wellness, work-life, crisis intervention services and outsourced HR solutions under the GuidanceResources brand. ComPsych provides services to more than 29 million individuals and 11,000 organizations throughout the U.S. and 97 countries. Clients range from the Fortune 500 to smaller public and private concerns as well as government entities and Taft-Hartley groups. ComPsych creates "Build-to-Suit" programs which help employers attract and retain employees as well as improve employee productivity and performance.

Source: ComPsych Corporation

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