Survey finds employees reluctant to return to work when workplace opens
As different states cautiously open their economies, a survey conducted by OnePoll for Citrix Systems Inc., based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida finds that most workers working from home due to the coronavirus are reluctant to return to an office setting.
Even though there has been a relaxing of shelter-in-place orders and increased safety measures, 64% of 2,000 U.S. workers polled said they would not feel comfortable returning to the office for one month or more.
As companies get ready to restart their operations in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Citrix understands the concerns and expectations employees have for returning to the office, according to a company spokesperson.
Most workers are anxious and want to be sure that they are not putting themselves or their families at risk and employers must factor this into their plans.
No one is beating down the doors
When employees were asked when they would be comfortable working in an office environment again, 64% said in 30 days or more.
When asked what they would like their employers to require as part of reopening facilities, employees responded as follows:
• Face masks worn by all employees (46%)
• Disposable gloves worn by all employees (43%)
• Hand sanitizers readily available throughout office space (42%)
• Health checks every two weeks with specific testing for coronavirus (41%)
• Face visors/face shields worn by all employees (40%)
• App installed on work-issued mobile devices to track employee movements and allow contact tracing (35%)
• Self-temperature checks performed by employees and a dedicated app to submit and validate data before allowing office entry (35%)
• Regular and clearly documented deep cleaning procedures (32%)
• Floor markings to enforce appropriate social distancing (32%)
• Thermal cameras to check temperatures before entering office space (31%)
• Staggered work shifts to prevent full offices
(28%)
• Removal of hot desking — allocated, spaced seating only (24%)
• No face-to-face meetings (23%)
• On-site cafeterias closed (18%)
Non-starters
If the company fails to implement these measures 77% of the employees polled said they will either:
• Continue to work from home permanently until the situation changed (45%), or
• Go to the office only for specific purposes (32%)
• 5% said they will find a job that allows them to work remotely all of the time.
Even if the above preventive measures are put in place, most of the respondents said they will continue to work remotely or go to the office only as required.
And when respondents were asked what it will take for them to feel comfortable returning to the office full time, the survey found the following:
• Regular testing and health screenings for all employees (51%)
• An effective vaccine (46%)
• Contact tracing/movement apps deployed by employer (44%)
• Contact tracing/movement apps deployed by government (38%)
• Flexible sick leave policy (28%)
Not surprisingly, 3% said the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how they feel about work, and that they don’t plan to return to an office full time.