Less than Half of Essential Workers Are Willing to Report to Work During a Serious Pandemic

12% of workers would choose to quit or retire rather than report for work

Non-illness absenteeism may be reduced by a focus on worker protection and support

Although first responders willingly put themselves in harm’s way during disasters, new research indicates that they may not be as willing— if the disaster is a potentially lethal pandemic.

In a recent study, researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found that more than 50% of the first responders and other essential workers they surveyed might be absent from work during a serious pandemic, even if they were healthy.

The study, reported online in the October issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine [3], involved over 1100 workers recruited from six essential workgroups, all located in the New York metropolitan area. The workgroups included hospital employees, police and fire department personnel, emergency medical services workers, public health workers, and correctional facility officers.

The researchers found that while 80% of the workers would be able (i.e., available) to report to duty, only 65% were willing. Taken together, less than 50% of these key workers were both willing and able to report to duty. According to the lead author, Dr. Robyn Gershon [4], Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences and Associate Dean for Research Resources at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, and Faculty Affiliate at Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, “these data indicate that non-illness related shortfalls among essential workers could be substantial.”

In anonymous surveys, workers reported on their willingness to work during a serious pandemic; the percent willing ranged from a high of 74% (public health workers) to a low of 56% (correctional workers).  The researchers found that motivation to work during a serious pandemic was associated with workplace safety measures and trust in the employer’s ability to protect workers from harm.

Workers were also more willing to report to duty if their employer provided them with respirators and pandemic vaccine and had an established pandemic plan. Willingness was also tied to past experience; essential workers who had responded to a previous disaster were significantly more willing to report during a pandemic.
                                                                                                                                               

Dilemmas of Loyalty

The researchers found that workers’ ability or availability to work during a serious pandemic was closely linked to their personal obligations. Referred to as “dilemmas of loyalty,” otherwise healthy essential workers might stay at home to care for sick family members or their children—if schools are closed. Organizational policies and programs that help workers meet their personal obligations will also increase workers’ ability to work. “Even something as simple as ensuring that workers can communicate with their families while they are on duty, can have a big impact on both ability and willingness,” reports Dr. Gershon.

Even though the Centers for Dise