Report: 75 Percent of U.S. Workers Don’t Think Employers are Prepared for Disasters

An overwhelming majority of Americans do not feel their employers are well-prepared for, or might not recover quickly from, a natural disaster, according to research by FM Global, one of the world’s largest business property insurers.

FM Global’s new Business Risk Pulse Check finds 75 percent of U.S.-based workers feel their employer is not well-prepared for a natural disaster, and 72 percent of those polled would not feel totally safe in their workplace during a natural disaster.

In addition, the study finds 71 percent of U.S. workers are not fully confident their employer can bounce back quickly from a natural disaster. The survey comes on the heels of a record year for natural disasters in 2011.

The research, commissioned by FM Global and conducted by TNS, a global research firm, polled more than 1,300 U.S. workers nationwide to gauge perceptions about natural catastrophe-related risk in the workplace. The findings of FM Global’s Business Risk Pulse Check adds further insight as to why U.S. Department of Labor statistics indicate more than 40 percent of businesses never reopen following a natural disaster.

“Business resilience is more than just about getting back on your feet, it’s also about doing the right things to make sure you don’t get knocked down in the first place,” said Jon Hall, executive vice president, FM Global. “The findings demonstrate how critical it is that business leaders better prepare for natural disasters and ensure those efforts are understood within the workplace. Not understanding how a business is prepared for disaster can adversely affect both employee performance and, ultimately, the health of a business.”

Source: FM Global