President Biden recently announced his plans to require either mandatory COVID-19 vaccines or weekly testing of employees who are not vaccinated for all employers with 100 or more employees. Many large companies had already announced their intent to require proof of vaccination to return to work. The final federal rule will eventually be rolled-out by OSHA and will no doubt face various legal challenges. Nonetheless, employees of large companies are aware of this trend toward vaccine mandates and not all are supportive.
An August survey of nearly 4,000 workers by Monster found that employees were mixed regarding their employers’ return-to-work plans. And despite pressure from governments and large organizations, a significant number remain either hesitant or defiant about getting the vaccine themselves. 82% of workers surveyed said they are considering changing jobs to find a role and an employer who better fits their needs.
Of course, not all of those 82% are open to a change simply because of vaccine mandates. Desire for flexible work arrangements is driving much of that sentiment. However, whether it’s accommodating people with vaccine hesitancy or willingness to offer flexible work schedules, small businesses may have the opportunity to scoop up talent from larger organizations in the coming months.
