A federal government shutdown could force up to 860,000 employees per day into furloughs, affecting 37 per cent of the non-USPS federal workforce, according to research from the Society for Human Resource Management.
Emily M. Dickens, SHRM chief of staff and head of government affairs, issued a statement Tuesday calling on Congress and the Trump administration to reach an agreement and prevent a shutdown.
“A federal government shutdown would create uncertainty and hardship for millions of workers, families, and businesses across the country,” said Dickens.
Working caregivers face heightened financial stress
Federal employees who are working caregivers face particular vulnerability during a shutdown, according to SHRM research. Among this group, 59 per cent expressed concern about finances, 51 per cent about job stability, 49 per cent about food security and 47 per cent about their mental health — rates significantly higher than non-caregivers, the organization said.
Many furloughed households would suddenly lose income and face uncertainty about meeting basic needs such as housing and food, according to SHRM.
Private sector operations at risk
The shutdown’s impact would extend beyond federal employees to private sector organizations, according to SHRM. Even a brief shutdown of one to three days could disrupt daily operations for 25 per cent of organizations and put 23 per cent of their annual financial goals at risk, the research found.
A shutdown lasting more than a week would affect 64 per cent of organizations’ operations and 49 per cent of their financial objectives, SHRM said.
HR teams face increased workload
HR professionals would handle furlough management, sudden payroll changes, employee anxiety and continuity of essential operations — often with limited information and tight timelines, according to Dickens.
HR teams would also face increased demand for mental health support, leave management and workforce planning as both federal and private-sector employees experience uncertainty, SHRM said.
SHRM has nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries and touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally, according to the organization.
