Houston Business Barometer Week 6: Some Local Companies Beginning to Recall Furloughed Workers

Published May 13, 2020 by A.J. Mistretta

A minority of local companies have recalled all or some of the employees they had to furlough in response to the coronavirus pandemic as they resume operations, according to a new survey from the Greater Houston Partnership.

Nearly 10% of the companies that responded to this week’s Houston Business Barometer survey said they had recalled all or some of their employees while another 24% reported they had not yet recalled any of those furloughed or laid off. Nearly 67% of respondents said they never had to furlough or lay off workers.

Approximately 23% of companies said they had partially or fully reopened their previously shuttered operations, while another 23% said they had not reopened yet. About 54% reported they never halted operations.

Nearly 42% of responding companies said they are currently developing a plan to reopen while 27% say they have a plan and are preparing to execute it. When it comes to where employees are actually working, 3.2% of companies said they had recalled all of their employees to the office and another 32% said they’ve recalled some employees to the workplace. Just over 61% said they have not yet recalled employees working from home to the workplace.

Asked what elements of their business they might reassess in response to their COVID-19 experience, the top three answers among respondents this week were: telecommuting practices, office design/layout and technology needs.

A total of 93 companies responded to the fifth Houston Business Barometer survey conducted by the Partnership between May 11 and 12.

See results from Week 5.

Get information and guidelines on reopening businesses safely from the Partnership's Houston Work Safe Program. Visit the Partnership's COVID-19 Resource page for updates, guidance for employers and more information.