Workplace vaccine mandates expected to accelerate, Willis Towers Watson survey finds
September 01 2021 - 9:14AM
The number of U.S. employers requiring workers to get vaccinated is
expected to surge over the next several months, according to a new
survey by Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW), a leading global
advisory, broking and solutions company. The survey also found that
more companies will be implementing financial incentives and
expanding testing requirements as they update plans to reopen
worksites.
The survey, conducted between August 18 and 25, found that by
the fourth quarter of 2021, over half (52%) of employers could have
one or more vaccine mandate requirements in the workplace. These
range from requiring vaccination for employees to access common
areas such as cafeterias to requiring vaccination for a subset of
employees to requiring vaccination for all employees. This is a
dramatic increase from the current 21%. Specifically, nearly a
third (29%) of employers are planning or considering making
vaccination a requirement to gain access to the workplace, and
almost a quarter (21%) are planning or considering vaccination as a
condition of employment for all employees.
Additionally, the number of employers that will track whether
employees have completed their vaccination is increasing. Nearly
six in 10 (59%) currently track their workers’ vaccination status,
and another 19% are planning or considering doing so later this
year. A majority (62%) of those require proof of vaccination, such
as completed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccination
cards, while 36% rely on employees to self-report.
“The Delta variant has made employers take new actions to keep
their workers — and workplaces — safe and healthy. We expect even
more employers to institute vaccine mandates in the wake of FDA
approval of the Pfizer vaccine,” said Jeff Levin-Scherz, M.D.,
population health leader, Willis Towers Watson. “This is not
an easy situation for employers to navigate. For instance, new
policies such as tracking workers’ vaccinations can improve safety
but also bring additional administrative requirements. At the same
time, employers will continue efforts to encourage vaccination and
communicate regularly with employees.”
Nearly two in 10 organizations (17%) offer financial incentives
for getting vaccinated, with another 14% planning or considering
doing so. Cash payments from $100 to $199 are the most common
financial incentive. Only 2% of employers currently offer a
discount to vaccinated employees or impose a premium surcharge on
unvaccinated employees. Another 18% are considering one or both
approaches. Most employers at this point are not planning or
considering either of these financial tactics.
The survey identified the following actions companies are taking
or considering as they rethink their reopening plans due to the
Delta variant:
- Mask mandates: Eight in 10 respondents
(80%) require employees to wear masks indoors at any location.
Another 13% are planning or considering doing so.
- Tracing: Three in four employers (75%) use
workplace exposure tracing to alert employees to a potential
exposure. Another 8% are planning or considering doing so.
- Return to normal: Nearly four in 10
employers (39%) now expect their organizations won’t reach a new
normal in terms of returning to the workplace and ending
pandemic-related policies and programs until the second quarter of
2022. About a quarter (26%) expect a return to the new normal
in the first quarter of next year.
“We have reached a point in the pandemic where employers that
have worked hard to make it easy for employees to get vaccinated
are also considering approaches to make it more difficult for
employees to remain unvaccinated,” said Dr. Levin-Scherz. “The one
certainty right now is that employers will continue to adjust their
plans through the remainder of 2021. While some employers will
institute more frequent testing, workplace restrictions on the
unvaccinated, and vaccination mandates, all will have one common
goal in mind — to keep their workforce healthy and productive by
minimizing the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the workplace.”
About the survey
A total of 961 U.S. employers participated in the Summer 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination and Reopening the Workplace Survey, which was
conducted between August 18 and 25, 2021. Respondents employ 9.7
million workers.
About Willis Towers Watson
Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW) is a leading global
advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around
the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to
1828, Willis Towers Watson has 45,000 employees serving more than
140 countries and markets. We design and deliver solutions that
manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the
power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and
individuals. Our unique perspective allows us to see the critical
intersections between talent, assets and ideas — the dynamic
formula that drives business performance. Together, we unlock
potential. Learn more at willistowerswatson.com.
Media contact
Ed Emerman: +1 609 240 2766 eemerman@eaglepr.com
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