The fast-spreading Omicron variant has rattled employees and upended return-to-office plans. New research finds that employees are worried about the variant, but want employers involved in protecting their health and safety. The key for employers: stay flexible and listen to employee needs.
Most employees are worried about Omicron’s impact on work and their return to the office
When it comes to Omicron, workers are experiencing increased levels of anxiety about in-person work and want their employers to reconsider their return to the office.
Due to the rise of the Omicron variant, do you…
Have increased anxiety about working in person?
![52% have increased anxiety about working in person—infographic](/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/omicron-return-to-work-anxiety-figure-1A.png)
Want your employer to reconsider back-to-workplace plans?
![55% want employer to reconsider back-to-workplace plans—infographic](/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/omicron-return-to-work-anxiety-figure-1B.png)
Think Omicron will impact your organization?
![68% Think Omicron will impact their organization—infographic](/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/omicron-return-to-work-anxiety-figure-1C.png)
Think Omicron will impact you at work?
![63% Think Omicron will impact them at work—infographic](/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/omicron-return-to-work-anxiety-figure-1D.png)
Most workers support employer vaccine & booster requirements
Should your employer…
Encourage or require employees to be vaccinated for in-person work?
![78% say employer should encourage or require employees to be vaccinated for in-person work—infographic](/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/omicron-return-to-work-anxiety-figure-2A.png)
Require vaccine
boosters?
![56% say say employer should require vaccine booster—infographic](/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/omicron-return-to-work-anxiety-figure-2B.png)
Employees want their employers to stay involved with COVID-19 health & safety
My organization should require or encourage employees to:
![Social distance icon](/wp-content/uploads/vaccines-icon-social.png)
84%
Social distance
![Wear masks icon](/wp-content/uploads/vaccines-icon-mask.png)
82%
Wear masks
![Temperature checks icon](/wp-content/uploads/vaccines-icon-thermometer.png)
72%
Have temperature checks
before entering the workplace
![COVID-19 testing icon](/wp-content/uploads/vaccines-icon-covid.png)
60%
Undergo COVID-19 testing
before entering the workplace
Methodology
The 2022 Eagle Hill Consulting COVID-19 Vaccines and the Workplace Survey was conducted by Ipsos from January 5-7, 2022, and included 1001 employees across the U.S. This survey measures employee sentiment about vaccines, returning to the workplace, and protocols for testing and safety.