As the Delta variant continues to proliferate, 42% of workers fear catching Covid-19 upon return to work tomorrow after the long Labor Day weekend, revealed a new study from The Conference Board.
This marks a substantial jump from June 2021 when only 24% had that concern. “With headlines about the rise of the Delta variant, breakthrough cases among the vaccinated, and an overburdened healthcare system in much of the country, Covid-19 concerns that were subsiding just two months ago have risen,” stated Rebecca Ray, Executive Vice President of Human Capital at The Conference Board.
COVID-19 CONCERNS
As the Delta variant surges, four in 10 workers fear Covid-19 exposure, according to the latest survey. The study highlighted that:
- 42% of respondents are worried about returning to the workplace for fear of contracting Covid-19 or exposing family.
- Just two months ago, only 24% were concerned about personally contracting it; and 28% were concerned about exposing family.
- When it comes to returning to the workplace, women are more concerned than men about Covid exposure, job security, and mental health:
- Contracting Covid-19 personally:
- Women: 48%
- Men: 37%
- Exposing family members:
- Women: 46%
- Men: 40%
- Pressure to return to the workplace to keep their jobs:
- Women: 25%
- Men: 15%
- Deterioration of mental health:
- Women: 27%
- Men: 11%
- Contracting Covid-19 personally:
GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES
Millennials are more concerned than other generations about Covid exposure, job security and mental health, according to the study. Key findings across generations reveal the following:
- Contracting Covid-19 personally:
- Millennial: 53%
- Gen X: 41%
- Baby Boomer: 45%
- Exposing family members:
- Millennial: 61%
- Gen X: 42%
- Baby Boomer: 40%
- Pressure to return to the workplace to keep their jobs:
- Millennial: 30%
- Gen X: 21%
- Baby Boomer: 19%
- Deterioration of mental health:
- Millennial: 38%
- Gen X: 21%
- Baby Boomer: 16%
QUESTIONING RETURN TO WORK
Workers, especially women (42%) and Millennials (48%), continue to question the wisdom of returning to the workplace given the belief that productivity remained high while working remotely; compared to men (28%), Gen X (38%) and Baby Boomers (33%).
Conducted in August by The Conference Board, the new survey captured the thoughts of more than 2,400 US workers on topics including return-to-work anxiety, factors driving them to pursue new job opportunities, opinions about remote work, and more. The survey findings also revealed that more than one-third of workers may leave their jobs within the next six months, as reported. Click here to read more.
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