What Employees Really Want When They Return to Work

Workers' most common requests in order to feel safe at work are social distancing measures (51 percent), detailed cleaning protocols (45 percent), personal protective equipment requirements (41 percent), coronavirus testing offered to employees (41 percent), and temperature/symptom screening (41 percent), according to an American Staffing Association study cited by Forbes . The ASA Workforce Monitor study found most workers are satisfied with their employer's response to the pandemic, specifically the office cleanliness protocols (85 percent), telework policies (82 percent), and communications about the pandemic (81 percent). However, across all generations, male employees are more likely to be satisfied than their female counterparts, and the younger the employee, the less likely he/she is to be satisfied. ASA President and CEO Richard Wahlquist advises, "Outreach to employees can't be a one-time effort or shared through just one channel. Effective communications are accomplished through regular, consistent information exchanges and dialogue across all available employee-directed mediums."