GEMI Quick Survey Results: Employee Environmental Awareness

GEMI Membership MeetingOrlando, FL

January 17, 2002

Facilitated by: Dean Miracle, Southern Co.{13 Companies Participated}

1a. What Methods Do You Feel Are Most Effective in Communicating Environmental Messages to Your

Employees? (Check ALL that apply)

Communication Method Preferred

Company Newsletter 70%

Company Website 80%

E-Mail 60%

Brochures 30%

Combined with Safety Workshops and Meetings 50%

Manager/Supervisor 70%

Videos 0%

Training Programs 60%

Bulletin Boards 30%

Town Hall Meetings 60%NOTE: Results shown above indicate the percentage of respondents that indicated that communication source as a preferred method. Items listed under the “Other” topic have been included in the summary results for Question #3.

1b. From The Choices Listed in 1a, List Your TOP 3 methods in Order of Effectiveness

#1 Method of Communication

E-Mail20%

Mgr/Supv30%

Website30%

Town Hall10%

Newsletter10%

#2 Method of Communication

Training20%

Other10%

Bulletin Board10%

Mgr/Supv10%

Website20%

Town Hall10%

Newsletter20%

1b. From The Choices Listed in 1a, List Your TOP 3 methods in Order of Effectiveness (cont’d)

1b. From The Choices Listed in 1a, List Your TOP 3 methods in Order of Effectiveness (cont’d)

#3 Method of Communication

Brochure10%

Training10%

Other10%

E-Mail10%

Mgr/Supv20%

Website20%

Town Hall10%

Newsletter10%

2. Do Your Employees Receive Questions From Friends & Neighbors About the Impact of Your

Company on the Environment?

Never10%

Occasionally70%

Frequently20%

3. What Creative or Educational Methods are You Utilizing to Communicate Environmental

Messages to Your Employees?

1. Environmental newsletter2. Conferences3. Daily electronic newsletters4. Kiosk TVs5. Manager’s goals for variable

compensation6. Posters—large & highly visible

displays in company locations7. Environmental contests8. Interactive training programs9. Cafeteria “tent” cards10. Employee ID Badge

attachments

11. Annual EH&S report12. Executive speeches13. External articles14. Annual financial report15. Brown Bag lunches16. Community volunteer

projects17. Hard hat stickers18. Interactive training

games19. Environmental events

surrounding Earth Day

4. Are Your Communications Intended to Focus on Getting Information to Your Employees or Do Your

Expect Them to Carry a Message to Their Community?

1. Communication to and through employees is our goal.2. Carry information to communities, especially through

managers.3. Not a well developed area yet.4. Employees are a high priority audience and may be

called upon to represent the company in public forums.5. Focus on what employees can do at work and home.

Long term goal is to inform employees enough about what we do as a company that they can act as ambassadors for the company to the public.

6. Both (several responses).

5. Is the Environmental Communication at Your Company Focused on Compliance?

Always10%

Seldom50%

Frequently40%

6. What are the Most Significant Environmental Issues Facing Your Company?

1. Air emissions2. Water3. Chemicals4. Energy reduction5. Takeback and materials in concern6. TRI 7. Global Climate Issues8. Security/Workplace Safety9. Employee awareness

7. Have You Been Able to Document Any Measurable Benefit From Your Employee Environmental Communications Effort.

If YES, in What Way?

Yes: 60% No: 40%

1. Measuring environmental website hits2. Annual employee opinion surveys3. Quarterly documentation of compliance4. Annual EH&S progress report5. Goals for managers and supervisors 6. Shorter cycle time for permit approvals7. Better community relationships

8. Do Your Employees Want to be More Informed About the Environmental Issues

Facing Your Company or Industry?

Yes 50% Not much request 20%Some 10% Don’t Know 20%

 1. Employees are interested in environmental information, but they

do not always know where to find the information.2. The difficulty is getting employees interested in environmental

issues.3. Many employees feel strong about environmental issues and

want to deliver the message.4. Environmental interest is not high, safety is a bigger issue.5. Has not been raised as a major issue.

9. When You Have Multiple or Complex Environmental Information That You Would Like to Communicate to

Your Employees, What Communication Methods Seem to Have the Greatest Impact & Most Retention?

1. Daily electronic newsletters2. Top management speeches/presentations3. Environmental training programs4. Annual Environmental conference5. Town Hall meetings6. Website7. Newsletters8. Manager/Supervisor communication9. Large scale community activities

10. In Order to Garner Employee Interest, Do You Share Specifics of the Potential Economic or Other Business

Risks Associated With Environmental Issues?

Yes 80% No 20%

10. (cont’d) Have you found this to be effective?

Yes 30% Somewhat 50% Unknown20%

1. People understand the economic benefits and can relate to those messages

2. Somewhat (several responses)3. These must be thoughtfully considered before communicating4. Must be used to reinforce rather than confuse the message5. Most of the time6. Fines for non-compliance7. Unknown (several responses)8. Information is published through EH&S report9. Especially when concerning compliance issues10.If people are not attuned to the environmental benefit, typically

they are attuned to the economic benefits.