• Globally, 20% of companies surveyed say SARS is high on business agenda; figure is 70% in Asia.

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• Business activities are still significantly disrupted - travel restrictions, staff/visitor screening, et al.

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• But most organizations think SARS will be over in three months, and

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• Majority believe the illness will leave little or no impact on business.

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While SARS may have subsided in the headlines, it remains a significant issue for 20% of companies affected globally, and 70% in Asia, according to a new survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Currently, SARS ranks higher than corporate scandals and job security on the business agenda. The global survey, of more than 260 companies affected by SARS, found that business activity remains significantly disrupted. Over 42% of organizations encourage staff to work at home while 51% provide them with masks. Travel is restricted by 79% of employers and 62% are unable to conduct regular business meetings for fear of spreading the illness. The precaution of screening staff and visitors is still exercised by 46% of companies, and a similar number (43%) make quarantine compulsory for those staff with, or at risk of contracting, SARS.

Other measures used by companies include enforcing leave, carrying out medical checks, canceling social events, implementing contingency plans, and increasing office cleaning.

"Now that the initial panic is over, employers are taking more measured actions, but the mood is still cautious," says Mercer consultant Hugh Bucknall. "Companies have had to rethink their work procedures and be far more flexible."

When will it end?

The majority of respondents appear to be optimistic that SARS will end soon. More than two-thirds (67%) believe that it will cease to be an issue in three months'' time. Only 20% think the illness will have a longer lasting impact, while 13% are unsure.

"Results suggest growing optimism about the outlook for SARS, and that there''s light at the end of the tunnel," Mr. Bucknall says. In the long-term, only a minority (7%) feel that SARS will have had a serious effect on business. Most (80%) say it will have no or little impact going forward and some (4%) even feel it will have a positive influence on operations. he rest say they cannot predict the outcome.

"This is a testing time for companies, but the discipline and organization needed to deal with such a crisis may even benefit them in the long term," says Mr. Bucknall.