When asked if their employer is adequately prepared for a terrorist attack:

-- 49 percent said no -- my employer has not communicated any special plans or procedures in case of an attack. -- 27 percent said somewhat -- we were briefed some time ago, but I feel my employer could do more. -- 15 percent said yes -- my employer has done a thorough job and has kept everyone updated on procedures. -- 9 percent said it doesn't matter -- I don't believe my company will ever be affected.

"What is surprising is that employees are far from complacent about the repeated terror warnings," said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, chairman and CEO of ComPsych. "We are seeing low-level signs of worry and a sense of inertia -- employees feel there is little that can be done on a personal level with regard to the alerts, and there is confusion over what should be done on an organizational level.

"There is also a 'trickle-down' effect from the specific terror information regarding financial centers. With one-third of the U.S. population living and working in big cities, many likely consider their place of work to be a soft target.

"Employers can defuse the tension of these terror alerts by continuing to communicate security measures and emergency procedures and by being attentive to employee questions and concerns," Dr. Chaifetz added. "By reinforcing practical information such as how your building is being protected and who to call and where to go in case of an emergency, employers can help put their workers at ease."

The Tell It Now poll was conducted from July 27 to Aug. 9, 2004, receiving responses from more than 1,000 ComPsych client companies nationwide.

About ComPsych

ComPsych is the world's largest provider of employee assistance programs, serving more than 21 million individuals and 5,600 organizations (including American Express, General Electric and Target).

Source: ComPsych Corporation

Web site: http://www.compsych.com/