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National Poll Shows U.S. Workers Worried Most about Unemployment Challenges, Healthcare Costs

9/12/2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (September 12, 2008) – A new poll from the Employment Law Alliance (ELA), the world’s largest network of employment attorneys, shows that more than half of American workers are worried about finding a new job if they become unemployed, followed closely by concerns over their ability to pay for healthcare insurance. The results are the latest part of the organization’s series of national polls titled “America At Work.” Member Rosalee McNamara (Labor & Employment – Kansas City) chairs the ELA’s Kansas/Missouri region, and has played an active role in ELA leadership for several years.

In the survey of 1,159 workers, conducted last week after the Democratic and Republican tickets were announced, and just before the U.S. Labor Department reported national unemployment at a five-year high of 6.1%, workers were asked their views regarding a wide range of workplace-related issues, national economic issues, and their preferences between the presidential candidates regarding those challenges.

“The ELA poll results illustrate how, after fear of finding another job if displaced, related issues connected to unemployment such as healthcare are of primary concerns for American workers,” McNamara said.

Workers, a mix of full (83%) and part-time (17%) employees all over age 18, ranked their top issues among a group of eight workplace challenges presented in the poll, conducted for ELA by the market research firm Reed Group, of Philadelphia. The margin of error based on the sample size is +/- 2.9%. The poll results reveal:

  • 51% are worried about finding a new job if they lose their current one;
  • 45% are troubled by the increasing cost to workers of employer-sponsored healthcare plans;
  • 37% fear losing a job due to poor economic conditions; and
  • 28% are concerned about fewer job opportunities due to outsourcing.

The Employment Law Alliance is the world’s largest integrated, global practice network comprised of independent law firms recognized for their practice in employment and labor law. There are member firms in all 50 U.S. states, and over 90 countries. For further information, including access to the survey charts and graphs, visit www.employmentlawalliance.com.

About Lathrop Gage:
A leading Midwest full-service law firm, Lathrop Gage L.C. has approximately 300 attorneys in 10 offices nationwide – from Denver, Colo. to New York, New York. In 2008, Chambers USA ranked Lathrop Gage’s corporate, environmental, intellectual property, litigation, real estate and labor and employment teams among the best in the Midwest. For more information, visit www.lathropgage.com.