Employers are using communication campaigns to encourage workers to get vaccinated, according to research from Willis Towers Watson.
The firm’s survey of senior employee benefits professionals at 121 UK companies found most employers had not gone so far as to incentivise people to get vaccinated.
But one in five employers have encouraged employees to get vaccinated through communications campaigns, with a further 18% considering using this approach.
One in seven said they were giving people time off or cash as a thank you for getting vaccinated, but they seemed likely to remain in the minority, with six in 10 employers not planning to use incentives.
None of the organisations surveyed currently asked their employees to get vaccinated in order to return to the workplace and two in three companies had no intention of doing so.
Just 12% were considering requiring employees to get vaccinated before they could return to the workplace.
The survey also showed that while the vast majority (85%) of businesses expected a return to the workplace for most employees who want to by the end of 2021, employers did not expect a return to pre-pandemic working practices.
Employers suggested about a quarter of the workforce will work remotely on a full-time basis in two years’ time, and almost half (41%) will embrace hybrid working.
Lucie McGrath, director for health and benefits GB at Willis Towers Watson, said: “Employers should think carefully about how to support their employees’ mental health as we adjust to the new working world.
“Uncertainty in this unprecedented time is very normal. However, while uncertainty is unavoidable as businesses take tentative steps back towards the workplace, it can also feel unsettling for employees.
“People who have worked from home for the last two years may find it tiring to spend more time in their workplaces. Equally, there are lots of upsides.”
She added that the key to success will be getting the details right, that this would be an iterative process for employers, and it would be important to listen to employees throughout.
