Flash Survey: How 900 Companies Are Handling Virus Employment Issues

It’s fair to say the COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest jolt to the workplace at least since WWII. A “flash survey” from Littler has sounded out more than 900 companies, most of them based in North America and with worldwide operations, to determine how they are handling some of the major issues. One area of inquiry was leave and sick pay, and one finding was that 89 percent of respondents were confronting the question of whether to pay employees during periods of absence. Eight-five percent were adjusting sick leave policies or providing additional paid time off, or are considering doing so. One in-house lawyer said his greatest area of confusion was how to treat fairly “those with kids who get to telecommute and others who remain required to report to work.” In addition to leave and sick pay issues, the survey asked about employee safety, discrimination, furloughs, temporary closures and employee morale.