Factors associated with the ability and willingness of essential workers to report to duty during a pandemic.
OBJECTIVE
To determine essential workers' ability and willingness to report to duty during a serious pandemic outbreak and to identify modifiable risk factors.


METHODS
Workers (N = 1103) from six essential workgroups completed an anonymous, cross-sectional survey.


RESULTS
Although a substantial proportion of participants reported that they would be able (80%), fewer would be willing (65%) to report to duty. Only 49% of participants would be both able and willing. Factors significantly associated with ability/willingness included individual-level (eg, intentions to adhere to respiratory protection and pandemic vaccination recommendations) and organizational-level factors (eg, preparedness planning for respiratory protection and worker vaccination programs).


CONCLUSIONS
During a serious pandemic event, non-illness-related shortfalls among essential workers could be substantial. Organizational preparedness efforts should focus on worker protection programs and the development of policies that would facilitate the attendance of healthy workers.
Gershon
Robyn R M
RR
Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. RG405@columbia.edu
Magda
Lori A
LA
Qureshi
Kristine A
KA
Riley
Halley E M
HE
Scanlon
Eileen
E
Carney
Maria Torroella
MT
Richards
Reginald J
RJ
Sherman
Martin F
MF
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015279:Organizational Culture; D058873:Pandemics; D010558:Personnel Loyalty; D055815:Young Adult