With the United States at war in Iraq, a vast majority of American workers
do not believe the conflict poses a direct threat to their job security, according
to a new survey from the Employment Law Alliance. In addition, nearly 90 percent
said voicing a dissenting opinion with their boss on the war would not lead
to retaliation in the workplace.For a Limited Time receive a
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customized information for your industry, location, and job.
Get Your Report Now!Of those polled, 84 percent said they are not worried about losing their job
because of the war with Iraq. Of the nearly 1000 Americans contacted by researchers
of Reed, Haldy McIntosh & Associates, almost 40 percent said they personally
know someone in their workplace who has been or is likely to be deployed. Details
of the survey include:
- 6 percent said they think they might lose their job
- 89 percent believe they can openly express opinions about the war that are
different from the view of their boss without facing retaliation. Only 2 percent
said they thought that a dissenting opinion would invite retaliation.
- 81 percent said they were not more worried now than in the aftermath of
Sept. 11, 2001 about losing their jobs; 10 percent said they were more worried
about job loss now than after the terrorist attack. And 78 percent said they
do not believe that talk of the war in the workplace would adversely affect
productivity and efficiency.
- 24 percent support federal intervention to ban strikes during times of war;
43 percent oppose federal intervention.
"The American worker has already seen their workplace go through significant
change, including large scale layoffs, and they are expressing confidence that
the war in itself will not cause another wave of downsizing," says Stephen
J. Hirschfeld, chief executive of the alliance. "The big picture at the
moment includes a landmark stock market rally, reforms in corporate governance
and other signs that the economy can rebound."
Hirschfeld also says the results suggest that employers are being diligent
to promote a workplace where there can be a free flowing exchange of ideas without
fear of retribution, and that debate and discussion can carry on without impeding
productivity.
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