Survey Results: The Effect of 9/11
on Employee Anxiety Levels

Linda Gravett, Ph.D, SPHR

The terrorist attacks on September 11th have had devastating effects on the families of victims. The attacks have also left an indelible impression on all of us in the United States, and the impact is certainly felt in workplaces all around the country.

In December of 2001, I distributed a survey to H.R. Directors in the Midwest to ascertain how the events of September 11th were affecting general anxiety levels of employees, even with the distance from the states where the attacks took place.

Here's a compilation of results from the 238 professionals who returned my survey:

Date of Survey: 12/30/01
Sent To: 500 H.R. Directors (Midwest Only)
Surveys Returned: 238
Results Compiled: 2/1/02

Company Size
0 - 100 0
101-200 76
201-300 81
301-400 17
401-500 23
501-1000 30
1001-5000 11
5001+ 0

Profit 196
Nonprofit 42

Number of Locations
1 Site 186
2-5 17
6+ 35

Are all locations within the U.S.?
Yes 172
No 66

If no, in what country(ies) are the other locations?
Mexico 21
India 14
Canada 12
Germany 8
Netherlands 5
Bolivia 3
Australia 3

Have the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon had a noticeable effect on the level of anxiety of your employees regarding workplace safety?
Not At All: 4
Somewhat: 162
Very Noticeable: 72

The most notable results reported were: drop in attendance within the first month after the attacks; increased turnover since 9/11; and requests for transfer out of high rise buildings.

Has the number of employee inquiries about safety procedures increased since 9/11?
Not At All: 4
Somewhat: 173
Very Noticeable: 61

Has employee anxiety manifested itself in tension between employees?
Not At All: 4
Somewhat: 179
Very Noticeable: 55

Has tension between employees resulted in an increase in the following (check all that apply):
Arguments during breaks in the cafeteria or lunchroom: 17
Arguments during work hours: 79
Complaints to H.R. about coworkers being disagreeable: 103
Employees challenging the directives of supervisors: 39
A need for increased use of the company's EAP: 21

What Should H.R. Professionals Be Doing?
I recommend that you take these steps to minimize the negative effects of 9/11 fallout:

1) Review your workplace violence and general safety procedures. Are they specific and easy to understand? Have they been shared with managers AND employees?

2) Develop an evacuation policy or contingency plan in the event of terrorist attack in your area or on your company specifically. The Society for Human Resource Management has published several excellent articles on policies within the past four months www.SHRM.org

3) Provide training for managers on conflict resolution and dealing with volatile people and issues.

4) Provide training for all employees on conflict management.

5) If you do not have a company-sponsored EAP, develop a resource list of area counselors who can address stress-related concerns and provide this resource to your employees.