November 2021
The New Workplace Employer Report
The pandemic has redefined how we work, where we work, and ushered in a new era of employer policies and programs – it’s a new workplace. In this report, 423 business leaders share their current plans for reopening and returning to the workplace, how they’re approaching COVID-19 policies, and managing a distributed workforce.
Returning to the Workplace
Today, “going to work” has a different meaning than it did a few years ago. Most companies do not require employees to be in the workplace physically and, for employees who are in the workplace, the majority are only there a few days a week. When employees do go back to the workplace – now or in the future – the workplace they once knew will likely have fewer people gathering in meeting rooms and there will be more distance between workstations. As for employers who have not yet returned to the workplace, 45% are still undecided.
Employer COVID-19 Policies
Employer policies have evolved since vaccines were first introduced in early 2021, influenced by emerging regulations in various states, CDC guidance, and local attitudes toward vaccination. If the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 Action Plan survives legal challenge, we would expect to see major shifts in employer policies. Most employers require their employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine prior to returning to the workplace, while nearly half of employers require a negative COVID-19 test for a variety of reasons prior to returning to the workplace. Although COVID-19 vaccination is required by most employers, many are undecided about what course of action they’ll take if employees refuse to get vaccinated for an unapproved reason.
Managing a Distributed Workforce
Employers’ stance on employee-requested relocation has evolved since we last researched this topic. More than half of employers will allow their employees to permanently relocate to a new state, and they are not planning to adjust salaries due to cost of living/labor market changes.
Caring for Employees
Employers continue to prioritize the wellbeing of their employees. Most employers implemented new strategies in the last 18 months to support the overall wellbeing of their people. Mental health support, team engagement activities, and increased communication about benefits and perks are the top three strategies employers have added or expanded to their wellbeing programs.
Methodology
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sequoia has conducted ongoing research to understand how employers have adjusted to the evolving conditions of the workplace. This report focuses on employers’ perspectives about returning to the workplace now that COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, how they are shaping their COVID-19 policies, and their approaches to managing distributed environments.
Insights from this report were gathered from a survey of 423 business leaders, who represent mostly-technology companies based in California, conducted from October 14-25, 2021. Sequoia is committed to continuing research to understand the new workplace and share our learnings to help people-driven businesses make informed decisions about their people programs and practices.