Workforce Outlook: Tracking company actions and worker attitudes during the outbreak

Wave 5 Brunswick Insight is conducting a weekly poll of U.S. Workers Audience U.S. workers to understand (Age 18+) Census Representative what actions companies are taking, how they’re Sample 1,000 Respondents communicating to their Size employees, and how Data employees are reacting. Collection Online Method

Wave 1: March 16, 2020 Wave 2: March 23, 2020 Timing Wave 3: March 30, 2020 Wave 4: April 6, 2020 Wave 5: April 13, 2020 Key Findings

1. There is a steady decrease in workers’ confidence in businesses’ preparedness to handle the crisis.

2. Most are sympathetic to walk-offs and believe they will be effective in motivating companies to reduce health risks.

3. Organizations are still missing an opportunity to take the steps that matter most to employees, both in terms of actions taken and the information they’re providing.

4. Employees crave clarity on what the return to the workplace will look like, and when it comes to making that return a reality, employers are under-providing on PTO and childcare.

5. Dr. Fauci is viewed as the most prepared leader. Optimism Shrinking There continues to be a steady decrease in workers’ confidence in businesses’ preparedness to handle the crisis, both their own and US corporations as a whole.

Total Prepared

How prepared is your own organization for How prepared are businesses in the United the spread of coronavirus? States for the spread of coronavirus?

-5

-14 76% 71% 70% 68% 66% 47% 45% 36% 36% 33%

March 16 March 23 March 30 April 6 April 13 March 16 March 23 March 30 April 6 April 13 Most Side With Employees Over Employers Workers are supportive of employee walk-offs, and a majority believe they will be effective. Furloughed workers, democrats, women, and those that live in urban settings are more likely to pick the side of employees.

How effective do you think employee How familiar are you with the When you hear about employee walk offs will be in motivating following news stories? walk offs due to COVID-19 health companies to reduce health risks for Total Familiar concerns, are you more likely to side employees? with the employees or the company?

87% 84% U.S. coronavirus U.S. officials 83% 17% 8% outbreak hopeful about 17% expected to peak May 1 target date Employees Employers this week for reopening 25% 67% U.S. % choosing the side of employees total 70% Furloughed 94% Full and Part 81% Workers across effective time the U.S. walk off Democrats 92% Republicans 74% jobs due to 50% health risks Women 89% Men 76%

Very effective Somewhat effective Urban 87% Rural 79%

Somewhat not effective Not at all effective Leading the Defense Months into the spread of coronavirus, organizations are still missing an opportunity to take the steps that matter most to employees, like compensating for lost wages and providing safety equipment to workers.

100% Above and beyond Best Practice 90%

80%

70% Encourage employees to work 60% from home

50% Close some or all of Provide safety its locations 40% Reduce hours for Furlough Provide additional sick equipment for those employees employees pay, coverage or PTO that need to continue 30% instead of laying working them off Compensate 20%

employees for % % Say company has taken action 10% hourly wages lost Contingencies Missed Opportunities 0% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% % Very important to worker Q: Which of the following has your own company implemented in light of the spread of the novel coronavirus? Select all that apply. Q: How important are each of the following for U.S. companies to implement to help stop the spread of coronavirus? 6 Disconnect on What Information is Important U.S. workers are eager to hear from their employers on plans for returning to the workplace.

Information received vs. wanted 44% 50% Difference Regular business updates -6 29% 43%

Clarification of financial impact on job security +14 20% 43% Plans for what it will look like when we return to the workplace 37% 39% +23 Communication about whether and how the company is monitoring the health of employees 35% 38% +2

Explanation of sick leave and other relevant company policies +3 35% 37% How your employer is training and supporting with new ways of +2 working 31% 37% Plans if the government requires a lockdown where you live +6 and/or work 26% 35% Explanation of medical benefits in case of infection +9 31% 33%

Company contact to reach in case of emergency -2 25% 31% Communication about whether and how the company is +6 monitoring customers for symptoms 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Information received Information wanted

Q: Please select what types of information you have received from your employer and the types of information you would like to receive during the coronavirus pandemic. Select all that apply. What the Return Looks Like Businesses are on the right track providing PPE, staggering shifts, and allowing flexibility, but need to do more to meet employees’ expectations when it comes to providing additional PTO and childcare

Difference 54% 67% Making masks and gloves available to employees -13 25% 57% Providing additional days of flex time or PTO that -32 employees can use as needed 38% 56% Staggering days or shifts to reduce the number of people in -18 the workplace at any one time 31% 56%

Allowing flexibility for in-person attendance -25 13% 50% Providing childcare for employees whose children’s -37 schools remain closed 25% 47% Offering employees the option of taking longer periods of -22 time off at a reduced pay rate, or without pay 30% 46% Providing additional channels for asking questions and -16 giving feedback 28% 45% Taking employees’ temperatures daily -17

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% % very important % say company has taken action

Q: How important are each of the following for companies to implement when employees return to the workplace? n=685 Frequency of Updates Workers now prefer to hear from their organization a few times a week or less, a major shift indicative of their adjustment to the “new normal.”

How often would you like to hear from your organization during the coronavirus pandemic regarding company updates and procedures?

36% 37% 33% 33% 31% 29%

22% 21%

13% 14% 10% 8% 6% 4% 3%

More than once a day Once a day A few times a week Once a week Less than once a week

April 13 April 6 March 30 Most Prepared Leaders Dr. Fauci is viewed as the most prepared leader, closely followed by governors from the more populous states.

How prepared are each of the following health agencies and individuals to help the United States handle the spread of coronavirus?

Dr. Anthony Fauci, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 72% How prepared are other governors in the eyes of local workers? Your state's governor 61% % Total Prepared State Dr. Robert R. Redfield, The Center (among local workers) for Disease Control (CDC) 60% California Dr. Deborah Birx, U.S. Special Rep. 67% for Global Health Diplomacy 54%

Dr. Tedros Adhanom, The World New York 65% Health Organization (WHO) 52% Pennsylvania 65% Governor Andrew Cuomo, NY 52% Texas 64% Vice President Mike Pence 39%

Illinois Governor Gavin Newsom, CA 37% 58%

President Donald Trump 36% Florida 43%

% Total Prepared Key Audience Breakdowns Furloughed Workers Furloughed workers are increasingly more concerned about their financials and want information to provide some clarity, and employers are doing a uniquely poor job communicating with this group.

Thinking into the future: Which statement Personal Life Concerns Information Wanted vs. Received do you agree with most? (% concerned)

Diff from 56% +1 Apr 6 -2 +1 +5 0 10% 41% 46% 35% Diff from Apr 6 29% -37 -15 31% 49% +1 16% -2 41% 19%

Spreading the virus to a Losing wages due to loss of vulnerable person or loved customers or losing my job one due to the impact My company and/or industry is unlikely to coronavirus has on my exist after the COVID-19 crisis industry or company Return to the Financial impact on job There will be significant changes to how Furloughed workers Non-furloughed workers workplace plans security employees work together Wanted Received Our company will mostly return to business as usual with little change to Q: What concerns you MOST about the spread of coronavirus when you think about your personal life? how we work together Q: Please select what types of information you have received from your employer during the coronavirus pandemic. Select all that apply. Q: Please select what types of information you would prefer to receive from your employer during the coronavirus pandemic. Select all that apply. Salaried vs Hourly Employees The gap between salaried and hourly workers has closed over the last month, but this is because salaried workers have become increasingly concerned. Although both groups are more satisfied with the communication they’ve received from employers, they are less likely to believe their organization is prepared for the virus. Salaried Employees Satisfaction with March 16: 88% Corporate Communications +7 95% are Salaried 74% concerned AprilSalaried 13 +12 about the March 16 62% spread of the virus Hourly April 13 64% Hourly March 16 47% +17

Hourly Employees Total Prepared for the Spread of Coronavirus March 16: 79% Salaried April 13 63% +11 90% are Salaried -12 concerned March 16 75% about the spread of the Hourly April 13 67% virus Hourly March 16 68% -1 Union Workers Union workers’ high confidence in their organization continues to decline and they are less likely to believe their organization will return to business as usual when it is time to go back to work.

How prepared are each of the following health agencies or How important are each of the following for companies to Union Workers individuals to help the U.S. handle to spread of COVID-19? implement when employees return to the workplace?

87% of union workers say it’s very important for companies March 16: 32% Dr. Robert Redfield, Dr. Robert Redfield, CDC 67% to take employees’ temperatures daily, compared to 78% of Center for Disease Control 59% -12 non-union workers 20% feel their own Dr. Tedros Adhanom, 57% 58% of union workers say it’s very important for companies organizations Dr. Tedros Adhanom, WHO World Health Organization 50% to provide childcare for employees whose children’s schools are very remain closed, compared to 48% of non-union workers prepared Union PresidentPresident Donald Trump Trump 32% 36% Non-Union 60% of union workers say it’s very important for companies to stagger days or shifts to reduce the number of people in Non-Union Workers the workplace, compared to 55% of non-union workers

Union March 16: 22% Thinking about the Future Workplace (% agree) Non-Union -5 35% 17% feel There will be significant changes to how employees work together 34% their own organizations Our company will mostly return to business as usual with little change to 60% are very how we work together 54% prepared 5% My company and/or industry is unlikely to exist after the COVID-19 crisis 12% Political Affiliation Concern has plateaued for both sides of the political spectrum, but Republicans are significantly less optimistic about working conditions going back to normal; Dr. Fauci is viewed as the most prepared regardless of political ideology, but Democrats are far more critical of this administrations’ preparation.

Total Concern Total Prepared to Handle the Spread of Coronavirus

3% Diff 56 49 20 15 9 6 5 2 Not at all 3% concerned 9% 71%80% 67% 68% 65% 62% 59% 64%66% 47% 54% 29% 45% 36%42% 19% Not too +1 35% 11% concerned -4 Pres. Trump VP Pence Gov. Cuomo Dr. Adhanom Dr. Fauci Gov. Newsom Dr. Birx Dr. Redfield Somewhat (WHO) (CDC) concerned 68% 54% Very Thinking about the Future Workplace (% agree) Diff from Apr 6 concerned 33% +11 There will be significant changes to how employees work together 35% -3

Our company will mostly return to business as usual with little change to how 61% -8 we work together 59% +1

-3 My company and/or industry is unlikely to exist after the COVID-19 crisis 6% 6% +2 Increase is based on March 16 data Republican Democrat One firm. Globally.

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