Whatever it takes?

Damian Lyons Lowe.

Founder, Chief Executive



Trying to be useful with our data and services - a few thoughts before the usual survey run-down.



Just as Rishi Sunak unveiled new employment and wage subsidies in a detailed anti-COVID package of measures today, with a focus on businesses and the employed, using existing mechanisms, Survation’s first in-depth COVID-19 opinion research has been published. Our research of 3000+ UK adults was large enough to focus on the opinions of workers amid the pandemic (workers of all types) as well as employer views on their concerns.



In the light of the (now) grim inevitability of the spread of COVID-19 around our shores - as in the episode of Yes Prime Minister, the virus' "enemy tanks" have trundled past Piccadilly and metaphorically reached Watford Gap Service Station, but unlike such a concept there is no mutually assured destruction "button" the Government can threaten to push that can now deter fully the tragic advance of the virus's effect on our population.



Is there however, in the spirit of "whatever it takes" the political will for whatever economic medicine is required to deter an economic calamity however -the dreaded L shaped recession instead of a U or every economist's favourite - the quick "correction" V shape.



For our first survey in these depressing times for our country and families, rather than "tracking public fear" or a focus on perception of political leadership "isn't he doing well!" - we wanted to know more about "what might it take" from workers. What did they think about their own businesses' prospects, how are the self employed* (14%) - currently mixed in to our worker sample feeling about their jobs, what do senior employers think are the risks to their own business sectors and what do employees think about their own business' preparedness?



The findings are rather bleak to read, but if we were to underestimate the level or the requirement of what "whatever it takes" means (and not realise quickly) - our economy could be unable to bounce or even limp back to recovery when those fortunate enough to emerge from their "locked down" homes having had only a mild cold or none at all and are not missing any loved ones make their "return to work".



The post recession response that helps countries to recover from a average type of recession - increasing optimism, confidence that the future is brighter than the present is rendered useless if that economy also has structural failure as well as an economic contraction. Will the future of work need to change?



For now, Survation present a report of what those in our economy told us from a period 7 days ago to this Tuesday when we closed fieldwork. Human emotion is a major factor in economics and turning the UK around will not be a small undertaking. When Mario Draghi uttered his "whatever it takes" speech in 2012 he saved the euro by convincing financial markets the ECB had more than enough firepower to take them on and win. The UK public and in particular it's workforce are in a fragile state that is not simply a game of financial chicken. Today's data shows they are worried for specific and practical reasons facing their sectors and the specifics of their own economic situation rather than being "doomsters".



Often in severe economic crisis, ideological politics that normally drive economic decisions can turn on their heads. If the economically-literate Chancellor's current version of Whatever it takes - more QE directed at the banks, employer/employment specific measures and base rates near zero just won't cut it . He may need to consider Milton Friedman's coined concept of Helicopter Money (as is happening in the US) or perhaps UBI - the modern version of guaranteed income first mentioned in Thomas More's 16th century Utopia. If he needs those levers - we'll seek to reassure Mr. Sunak if he does or does not have the backing of the public in our polling. The findings below might seem to indicate support for well, whatever it takes.



Survation's strategic communication guide - a free resource effort for companies and organisations to assist themselves with internal and external crisis comms.



At the bottom of the write-up of today's COVID-19 related research on our earlier web post we noted that we have put together a free resource - a concise crisis communication guide from our new Director of Strategic Communications which may help you in communicating with your own staff and stakeholders. It may well be that many companies and organisations (as well as apparently large ones) in profit and not for profit sectors may in some cases may be without without experience in change management and crisis communications or finding a difficulty in focus during the current situation



One of the findings from today’s published research (below) was the challenge companies and organisations are having with their internal communications at this very difficult time. With the current situation in mind, we have prepared with the team a free resource or guide to helping organisations communicate with staff and stakeholders in a structured and thoughtful way, which should be useful for companies and organisations large and small. You can request the guide and other free tools we are working on that may help via the following link.



All the best for now.

Damian Lyons Lowe.





Today's Research - Key Points:

54% of all workers surveyed were concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on their jobs. Looking across standard occupational classification levels, concern was 46% for Level 4 workers (corporate managerial, senior professional), rising to 58% for Level 3 (other managers or proprietors, associate professionals, skilled trades), 57% for Levels 1 / 2 (services, administration, process or machine operation / elementary). Statistics from the polling. Amid the now swift progression of COVID19 Virus in the UK, and uncertainty over the detail of what government’s emerging strategy will be, most (54%) of businesses told us they have yet to implement a Business Continuity Plan . 50% are at the “analysis” or “design” stage with 20% unsure of what the stage of their company’s planning was. Only 17% of workers described their business as “very prepared” for the outbreak’s progression. Staff availability was the top specific concern among workers in relation to their business with 70% citing worries over workforce reductions , followed by disruption to businesses for planning / time to implement new procedures (61%). Lower, but reflecting the diverse UK economy, 51% had concerns about product and service demand and 44% were concerned about products and raw material availability. While 59% of companies have made changes in company policies in response to COVID-19 (taking sensible precautions about viral transmission) according to employees we polled, 31% were yet to do so and 10% were unaware. Company and organisation communications strategy on COVID-19 is currently a mixed bag. 79% of employees reported receiving email communications from their organisation but o nly 24% had seen information (such as government recommended posters) via their employer. 23% (not including sole proprietors) told us they had not received any information at all from their organisation.







A Selection of Key Business & Employment Tables:



















Further information:





The survey top-line summary document is available here.

Full methodology and data tables (over 50 to enjoy) are available here.

Survation interviewed just over 3000 persons including 1147 workers over the age of 18+ online between March 13th to 17th 2020



The survey had a focus on the attitudes of business, organisations, employees, the self employed (14% of workers in the sample) and groups such as students who are also in employment. We will be repeating polling and looking specifically at sub samples such as the self employed and those in non traditional employment in more detail in the weeks to come.



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