California Businesses Rally to Minimize Effect of High Fuel Prices on Employees.LOS ANGELES Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. -- Gas prices at the pump are still more than $4 a gallon--and predicted to rise back up to the almost $5 of recent times--prompting businesses to look at practical, cost-effective options that provide relief to employees. Employers Group The Employers Group is a nonprofit association of employers based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1893 as the Merchants Association, the organization's initial goal was to secure the open shop in all workplaces in the city. , the preeminent human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. expert and advocate serving California employers, just released the results of a two-day survey of California 222 employers, asking what they are doing to minimize the effect of gas prices on their employees. The full survey results will be available Monday, August 11 at www.employersgroup.com: Have fuel costs impacted your company? * 77% of total respondents said "yes." * 79% of companies in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, said "yes" and 67% in Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern said "yes." * Larger companies reported impact at a higher rate than smaller size firms: 87% agreed that increased fuel costs had impacted their organization. How have fuel costs impacted your business? * 27% of companies reported voluntary terminations from employees needing to reduce their commuting time. * 10% reported experiencing higher absenteeism ab·sen·tee·ism n. 1. Habitual failure to appear, especially for work or other regular duty. 2. The rate of occurrence of habitual absence from work or duty. rate. * 13% reported impact on their productivity levels. * 56% reported an increase in cost of goods and services In economics, economic output is divided into physical goods and intangible services. Consumption of goods and services is assumed to produce utility (unless the "good" is a "bad"). It is often used when referring to a Goods and Services Tax. . * 21% reported a drop in sales. * 33% reported that they are reassessing budget allocations. Figures for Northern California companies were lower in each of the foregoing survey options vs. statewide figures: What are you doing to alleviate employee commuting costs (these options are representative of the responses received)? [TABLE OMITTED] What are your plans for alternative work schedules to assist employees with higher fuel costs? Forty five percent of companies surveyed reported they would allow flexibility in starting/quitting times to avoid high traffic commute times, and 20 percent, would institute telecommuting telecommuting, an arrangement by which people work at home using a computer and telephone, transmitting work material to a business office by means of a modem and telephone lines; it is also known as telework. . Another 17 percent would compress workweeks, such as four 10-hour shifts; and 14 percent would implement 9/80 shifts, whereby an employee works nine hours every Monday through Thursday, and takes off every other Friday. What work strategies are you instituting to offset higher fuel costs? [TABLE OMITTED] About Employers Group Employers Group serves California employers by delivering human resources solutions to its members throughout the state. For more information, visit www.employersgroup.com. |
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