Statistics Show Employees Prefer COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements Upon Returning to Work

Statistics Show Employees Prefer COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements Upon Returning to Work

A significant amount of employees don't feel safe going back to the workplace until vaccines are distributed to all of their co-workers.

It’s not just businesses pushing for the COVID-19 vaccine upon return of the workplace, it’s mainly employees, according to an article. Envoy released its Return to Workplace Report, examining employees’ attitudes towards returning to the office after more than a year of working from home. The study finds the majority of employees are concerned about the health and safety risks of returning to the office. The report shows 62 percent of people support a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirement in order to show up at the office. 61 percent fear their employers may get rid of some protocols a bit too soon. Nearly half of workers say they prefer a hybrid of both in-person and remote work.

“The data shows us that employees do want to return to the workplace, but in a way that prioritizes their need for flexibility and recognizes the pandemic’s impact on the way we work now. Many employees want the power to design a workweek that works best for them, which companies can support by embracing a hybrid work model,” said Envoy founder and CEO Larry Gadea. “Supporting employees to do their best work will look different at every company—our intention is to make it easy for companies to transition back no matter what approach they choose. In any scenario, companies will need insights, strategies, and technologies that enable them to craft a workplace experience where employees can thrive.”

Key Report Findings:

  • Employees remain concerned about returning to the workplace, especially some subgroups
    - 66 percent say they are worried to return to the workplace
    - Concerns are even more pronounced among people of color: 78 percent, Gen Z (under age 25) and employees at 75 percent.
  • Majority of Employees desire mandatory vaccines for all before coming back to work
    - 62 percent believe all of their co-workers must be fully vaccinated before coming back to work.
  • Hybrid work is a priority for many employees
    - 48 percent prefer hybrid work
    - 41 percent say they would be willing to take a job with a slightly lower salary if their company offered a hybrid work model, while 47 percent say they would likely leave their job if they did not offer it post-pandemic.
  • Employees want to return to workplaces together
    - 52 percent said that their co-workers’ workplace schedules will influence their own.
    - Friends are a stronger pull to go back to work than bosses and supervisors, 23 percent say they would work in the office to see their friends, compared to 18 percent who would go in to see their boss.

You can read the detailed list here.

Companies now face a lot of obstacles and considerations when it comes to returning to work regarding employee health and safety.

The full report shows examples of work models to help get back on track.

About the Author

Shereen Hashem is the Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety magazine.

Product Showcase

  • Full Line of Defense Against Combustible Dust Nilfisk

    Nilfisk provides a comprehensive range of industrial vacuums meticulously crafted to adhere to NFPA 652 housekeeping standards, essential for gathering combustible dust in Class I, Group D, and Class II, Groups E, F & G environments or non-classified settings. Our pneumatic vacuums are meticulously engineered to fulfill safety criteria for deployment in hazardous surroundings. Leveraging advanced filtration technology, Nilfisk ensures the secure capture of combustible materials scattered throughout your facility, ranging from fuels, solvents, and metal dust to flour, sugar, and pharmaceutical powders. Read More

  • HAZ LO HEADLAMPS

    With alkaline or rechargeable options, these safety rated, Class 1, Div. 1 Headlamps provide long runtime with both spot and flood options in the same light. Work safely and avoid trip hazards with flexible hands-free lighting from Streamlight. Read More

  • Preventative Heat Safety

    Dehydration and heat exposure impair physical and cognitive performance. Proper hydration boosts heat stress resilience, but hydration needs are highly individualized and hard to predict across a workforce. Connected Hydration® empowers industrial athletes to stay safe through behavioral interventions, informed by sports science, and equips safety teams with critical insights to anticipate high-risk situations and adapt to evolving environmental factors. Curious about applying the latest in sports science based hydration strategies for industrial athletes? Stop by booth #1112 at AIHA or schedule a free demo today at https://epcr.cc/demo. Read More

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars