Contrary to popular perception, and despite a rash of massive layoffs, a new poll shows that just over 60% of American workers are very confident that their employers are doing everything possible to avoid layoffs. Even in businesses where there have been recent layoffs, most employees do not think employers are using the events of September 11 "as an excuse" to justify those layoffs. These and other key findings were included in the Employment Law Alliance's (ELA) recent "America At Work" poll on attitudes toward job security in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Stephen J. Hirschfeld, Esq., CEO of ELA and a partner in the California-based firm of Curiale, Dellaverson, Hirschfeld, Kraemer & Sloan LLP, believes the poll indicates that the American worker is generally confident, but not without some anxiety, when it comes to their own job security. "Contrary to much of what has been reported, we see a work force that is generally trusting of its employers to do the right thing and not exploit the world crisis for corporate gain," he explained. "We see an absolute need for employers to communicate with their employees as never before."

ELA's national telephone survey of 1,000 working adult Americans revealed the following:

• 62% are "very confident" employers are doing everything possible to avoid layoffs, while only 21% expressed "some confidence"
• '15% reported that they are "not too confident" or "not at all confident" that their employers are doing everything possible to avoid job cuts
• 38% believe that union members are more secure in their jobs right now vs. 35% who think that union membership has no effect on job security. The vast majority of those polled hold non-union positions, but still believe their union counterparts are better insulated from layoffs.
• Among working men and women surveyed, 21% report their employer has either laid off workers recently or is expected to do so in the next month.
• Among those whose companies are in the midst of layoffs,
  • 83% do not believe that their employer is using the current crisis environment as an excuse to impose or accelerate layoffs.
  • 16% do think employers are using the current crisis environment as a rationale to either impose or accelerate work force reductions