Survey Finds Most US Employers Won't Require Employee Vaccinations

Stacked wooden blocks with the words Reopening and Vaccine written on them

July 01, 2021 |

Stacked wooden blocks with the words Reopening and Vaccine written on them

While US employers continue to encourage employees to get the COVID-19 vaccination, most don't plan to require employees to be vaccinated to enter the workplace, according to a recent survey by Willis Towers Watson (WTW).

WTW found that 72 percent of the employers surveyed said they will not or do not plan to require vaccination as a condition of entering the workplace.

Among employers requiring or considering requiring vaccination, 56 percent will require documented proof of vaccination. Of those surveyed, 19 percent said they would require or consider requiring vaccinations for certain workplace privileges such as the use of indoor gyms and cafeterias.

The survey, conducted in May, found that 86 percent of employers are offering scheduling flexibility to encourage vaccination, and 82 percent are communicating with employees about the value of getting vaccinated. In addition, 40 percent have implemented programs to boost vaccination among populations less likely to get vaccinated, and another 21 percent are considering doing so.

Most employers surveyed indicated they are requiring employees to wear masks indoors, with 52 percent requiring vaccinated employees to wear masks and 69 percent requiring unvaccinated employees to do so.

July 01, 2021