Some of the biggest obstacles that companies are facing right now are bringing staff back to the office, developing a Covid-19 vaccine policy and financial instability, confirmed new research from Paychex.
The American economy, led by small and mid-size businesses, continues to face challenges as we head into the second year of widespread shutdowns caused by the pandemic. The US-focused survey carried out by the HR software and services company, found that business owners continue to be in a precarious position financially in the wake of Covid-19.
Amid this financial instability, many businesses are carefully coordinating a plan for employees’ safe return to help maintain customer loyalty. According to the latest research, 55% of small and mid-size companies surveyed said that staff remain at least partially remote. More than 40% of are still working out the details of bringing employees back to the workplace safely. However, only 12% confirmed that some or all of their workforce will permanently work at least part of the time remotely, following the pandemic.
VACCINATION AT WORK
An essential step in getting employees safely back to the workplace will be vaccinations. Many business leaders see themselves having a role in employee vaccination, according to Paychex. Around 75% of small business owners (10-49 employees) and 85% of mid-sized businesses (50-500 employees) plan to motivate their employees to get the Covid-19 vaccine. However, around 25% of employers surveyed expressed concerns around potential legal liabilities if they were to incentivise employee vaccination.
“From the financial toll Covid-19 has taken on businesses, to the confusion around returning employees to the office, and what to consider when building a vaccination policy, business owners are facing a level of complexity never seen before,” stated Mike Trabold, Director of Compliance Risk at Paychex. “That’s why we’ve created educational resources addressing a spectrum of new challenges. Whether it’s a full shutdown, seeking funds to keep doors open, struggling to manage a remote workforce, or hiring to meet new and unexpected demands, we’ll continue to guide business owners through the difficulties identified in this research.”
Paychex’s Covid-19 Help Center provides extensive HR support for companies to address pandemic-related challenges. The service, which is available to all businesses, includes reopening guidelines to help companies resume operations with confidence, including detailed information about staffing, workplace safety and privacy considerations.
Another recent survey revealed that staff are reluctant to return to the office until Covid-19 vaccines become more widely available. Click here to read more.
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