NEW YORK, N.Y. — As the Delta variant continues to proliferate and workers head into the Labor Day weekend, 42% of workers are worried about returning to the workplace for fear of contracting COVID-19. This marks a substantial jump from June 2021 when only 24% had that concern, according to The Conference Board.

“With headlines about the rise of the Delta variant, breakthrough cases among the vaccinated, and an overburdened health-care system in much of the country, COVID-19 concerns that were subsiding just two months ago have risen,” said Rebecca Ray, PhD, Executive Vice President of Human Capital at The Conference Board.

Conducted in August by The Conference Board, the new survey captured the thoughts of more than 2,400 US workers on topics including return-to-work anxiety, factors driving them to pursue new job opportunities, opinions about remote work, and more. 

The survey findings also reveal that more than one-third of workers may leave their jobs within the next six months. The driving factor: a desire for flexible work arrangements. Indeed, 80 percent cite work arrangements as very important or important in their decision to leave their current job. Survey respondents rank a flexible work location as the most desired aspect of a new job, prioritizing it slightly over better pay and career advancement, the two traditional drivers of job changes. 

Key findings from the nationwide survey include:  

As Delta surges, 4 in 10 workers fear COVID-19 exposure.

• 42 percent of respondents are worried about returning to the workplace for fear of contracting COVID-19 or exposing family.  

• Just two months ago, only 24 percent were concerned about personally contracting it, and 28 percent were concerned about exposing family.

• When it comes to returning to the workplace, women are more concerned than men about COVID exposure, job security, and mental health:

Contracting COVID-19 personally 

Women: 48 percent

Men: 37 percent

Exposing family members 

Women: 46 percent

Men: 40 percent

Pressure to return to the workplace to keep their jobs

Women: 25 percent

Men: 15 percent 

Deterioration of mental health

Women: 27 percent

Men: 11 percent

Millennials are also more concerned than other generations about COVID exposure, job security, and mental health:

Contracting COVID-19 personally: 

Millennial: 53 percent

Gen X: 41 percent

Baby Boomer: 45 percent

Exposing family members: 

Millennial: 61 percent

Gen X: 42 percent

Baby Boomer: 40 percent

Pressure to return to the workplace to keep their jobs:

Millennial: 30 percent

Gen X: 21 percent

Baby Boomer: 19 percent

Deterioration of mental health:

Millennial: 38 percent

Gen X: 21 percent

Baby Boomer: 16 percent

Workers, especially women and Millennials, continue to question the wisdom of returning to the workplace given the belief that productivity remained high while working remotely. 

• Women: 42 percent

• Men: 28 percent

• Millennial: 48 percent

• Gen X: 38 percent

• Baby Boomer: 33 percent

Making moves

More than one-third may leave their organizations within the next six months.

• 29 percent of respondents are unsure if they will remain at their current job for the next six months.

• Only 7 percent are sure of their plans to leave within that time frame. 

• 63 percent indicate they are not planning to leave in the next six months.

• More men than women are more certain that they will remain with their organizations for at least the next six months:

- Women: 59 percent

- Men: 70 percent

• More women than men, on the other hand, are not sure of their plans:

- Women: 33 percent

- Men: 23 percent

Flexibility is important

The top reason workers are looking for new jobs: inflexible work arrangements.

• More than 80 percent cited the importance, at some level, of work arrangements such as flexible hours and work location in their decision to find a new job.

- Very important: 60 percent

- Moderately important: 20 percent

- Slightly important: 9 percent

• Work arrangements were very important to more women than men:

- Women: 66 percent

- Men: 49 percent

• Work arrangements were very important to more Millennials than other generations:

- Millennial: 67 percent

- Gen X: 58 percent

- Baby Boomer: 59 percent

The Conference Board is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit business membership and research group organization. Founded in 1916, the Conference Board a the member-driven think tank that delivers insights for what’s head.