Over 69 pct of workers uncomfortable returning to workplace — Research

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 69 per cent of workers across age groups in Thailand and Malaysia are uncomfortable going back to the workplace at present, according to a study by experience management solutions provider Qualtrics.

The “Return to Work and Back to Business” study revealed that people in Malaysia, as well as Thailand, need to feel confident about re-entering public life.

Meanwhile, 62 per cent of workers expect to return to the workplace by July, while over half were saying a treatment (58 per cent) or vaccine (61 per cent) must be approved for them to feel comfortable returning to the workplace.

“With lockdown measures starting to be lifted, we are beginning to see businesses and workplaces reopen and return to normal. But as this occurs, employers and businesses need to remember the pace with which they are re-opening might not match their employees’ or customers’ readiness to return,” said Head of Southeast Asia Mao Gen Foo.

Qualtrics said organisations and governments need to understand how employee and customer behaviours and attitudes have changed so that they could take actions helping them feel confident during this next phase of the ‘new normal’.

“It is crucial that businesses are able to unlock insights around employee and customer confidence at each stage of the transition to drive necessary business actions,” Mao said.

When it comes to public transport, 67 per cent of the people feel uncomfortable using it right now, and 73 per cent feel uncomfortable flying on an airplane.

Mao said the results revealed that most consumers have not yet feel comfortable to return and it means as measures lift and businesses continue to reopen in the coming weeks and months, it is essential they can understand how customers feel.

For live concert and sporting events, right now, Mao said most people were uncomfortable attending a live sporting event (73 per cent) and live concert (71 per cent).

“Nearly one in four people (25 per cent), who regularly attend sporting events, said they are unlikely to attend in the foreseeable future, even once spectating is allowed and close to half (48 per cent) of people said they would not be comfortable going to a live sporting event until at least January 2021.

“Meanwhile, 59 per cent of people said they would not be comfortable going to a live concert until at least January 2021,” he added.