Most workers unaware of employer flu plans: Study

Fewer than one out of five workers are aware of any plan in their workplace to respond to an influenza pandemic, according to a survey released Thursday by the Harvard School of Public Health.

In fact, 63% of the 1,101 full- and part-time workers surveyed by the Boston-based school between Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 said their workplace had no plan, while 19% said there was a plan. The remaining 18% did not know whether their workplace had a plan or not.

Employees in workplaces with plans cited provisions such as encouraging sick employees to stay home, expanding options for working from home and general information about the flu.

In addition, 25% of the respondents said staying out of work for seven to 10 days would be a "serious financial problem."

The survey, which also discussed people's willingness to cooperate with public health recommendations and how people would cope with a pandemic and home and school, was released at the Institute of Medicine in Washington.