Over half of U.S. employers will require employee vaccines, Willis Towers Watson survey finds

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[{"type":"text","content":"Employer enthusiasm for financial incentives for vaccination has waned, and employers are split on whether vaccine mandates will help recruiting or lead to resignations\nARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate works its way through the courts, a new survey by leading global advisory, broking and solutions company Willis Towers Watson has found that the majority of U.S. employers now require or are planning to require their employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The survey, conducted November 12 to 18, found that more than half (57%) of all respondents either require or plan to require COVID-19 vaccinations. That includes 18% that currently require vaccinations, 32% that plan to require vaccinations only if the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) takes effect, and 7% that plan to mandate vaccinations regardless of the ETS status. The ETS, which is currently being reviewed in the courts, allows employers to offer weekly testing as an option to unvaccinated employees. Few employers (3%) with vaccination mandates have reported a spike in resignations, although nearly one in three (31%) of those planning mandates are very concerned that this could contribute to employees leaving their organizations. On the other hand, nearly half of employers (48%) believe that vaccine mandates could help recruit and retain employees. In addition to vaccine mandates, employers are planning to require testing and masks to protect employees who are returning to the workplace. Nearly all employers will offer testing (84%), most on a weekly basis (80%). One-quarter (25%) will require unvaccinated employees to pay for testing unless prohibited by state law. Nearly all employers (90%) require or plan to require masks to be worn indoors. “Despite the current holding pattern pending the court rulings, we advise employers to proceed with plans to implement the mandate as well as other efforts to protect their workers,” said Jeff Levin-Scherz, M.D., population health leader, Willis Towers Watson. “Employers can encourage vaccinations and boosters with scheduling flexibility and time off, promote regular testing, stipulate mask wearing onsite to ensure employee health and safety — and support this with regular communications.” The survey also found waning...

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