New York Businesses Bracing for Republican National Convention; CoreNet Global Survey: Respondents Expect Negative Fallout as Workers Telecommute and Take Liberal Leave to Avoid Traffic, Disruptions.

ATLANTA, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In a survey of New York area corporate real estate managers conducted by CoreNet Global, the leading professional trade association for corporate real estate executives, businesses anticipate declines in productivity and a negative impact on some of their bottom lines, as the Republican National Convention meets in New York August 30 - September 2, 2004.

Fifty-six percent of the respondents tell CoreNet Global that the absence of workers in their normal workplaces will create a decline in productivity. Also, 29% of New York businesses, which answered the survey, say there will be a negative impact on their company's bottom lines over the four-day period of the convention.

While most respondents expect business as usual during the nominating convention, 25% are providing workers with the option to work from home, 22% are providing some sort of liberal leave and 6% say workers can report to alternative office space away from Madison Square Garden, where the convention is being held.

CoreNet Global's New York members are implementing back up plans to offset the anticipated lack of rail access and other inconveniences while the Republicans are in town. Forty-five percent of survey respondents say they are planning to take vacation time.

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