44%: Percentage of employers that have accommodated at-risk employees by creating more flexibility
Employers are giving special consideration to at-risk employees who are older or have a medical condition and whose jobs cannot be done remotely. Two-fifths of employers (44%) have accommodated at-risk employees by creating more flexibility, and 50% more are planning or considering such actions, according to a new survey of employers from consulting firm Willis Towers Watson. Roughly 30% of employers are reassigning at-risk employees to new roles that accommodate remote work or physical distancing, and many more plan to do so.
What it means to HR leaders
Employers are taking a closer look at how to safeguard returning employees in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. About 40% of companies identified workplace safety as a top priority in June, compared to 27% in a survey conducted in April, according to Willis Towers Watson. Most employers (71%) have developed workplace and employee safety policies to prepare for the return of employees. Among precautions they are embracing, or considering, are screening workers on re-entry, providing personal protective equipment and reconfiguring workspaces.
Related: 1 in 4 workers at risk for serious COVID-19 illness as employers open up workplaces
HR leaders are wise to give special consideration to these employees, experts say.
“These data suggest employers should take into account the higher risk some workers will face, allowing them to work at home where possible, to be tested and to minimize their risks if they return to work,” says KFF President and CEO Drew Altman.
