SEATTLE, WA – Digital.com, an independent review website for small business online tools, products, and services, has published a recent survey report on how American companies plan to operate in a post-pandemic workplace.
The survey generated responses from 1500 small business owners and focused on remote work experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and plans for resuming in-person work.
Research findings indicate that 4 out of 10 employers will fire workers who won’t return to the workplace full-time. Nearly 50% of the survey respondents said most job functions require in-person attendance, and 45% expressed concerns about a decline in employee productivity while working remotely.
Business owners also cited other disadvantages to working from home, such as low employee morale, increased lateness due to oversleeping and distractions, and increased miscommunication among staff.
In contrast, only 10% of employers will make remote work mandatory, and 17% said employees will follow a hybrid schedule of onsite and remote work. Survey results also show that most business owners are willing to consider feedback from employees about work schedules.
Sixty-nine percent of employers state that they have asked or plan to ask workers for their input on post-pandemic work structure.
“One critical takeaway from this survey is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to post-pandemic workplace strategies,” says Digital’s small business expert Dennis Consorte. “Many business owners want mandatory in-person attendance. They need to get direct feedback from workers, mitigate fears about the virus, and demonstrate empathy about other concerns before making such an impactful decision.”
According to the report, 42% of businesses will require staff to get vaccinated before returning to work onsite.
Employers are also in favor of other safety protocols, such as mask mandates and social distancing. Fifty-five percent of small businesses will require workers to wear a mask, while 52% will prohibit or limit close interactions between employees.
Digital.com’s research team developed this report to share insightful data on workplace trends in a post-pandemic world. The survey was created and paid for by Digital.com and administered by Pollfish, the online survey platform, from April 7-8, 2021. To access the complete report, please visit: https://digital.com/39-percent-of-employers-will-fire-workers-refusing-to-come-in-to-work/
