As fear spreads over Omicron variant, what can HR leaders do to ease concerns of employees?
![Majority of workers concerned about returning to the workplace](https://cdn-res.keymedia.com/cdn-cgi/image/f=auto/https://cdn-res.keymedia.com/cms/images/us/038/0308_637799467250813487.jpg)
More than half of New Zealand’s workforce has expressed concern about returning to the workplace amid the outbreak of new COVID-19 variants, a new study has revealed.
The ELMO Employee Sentiment Index revealed that 64% of workers are concerned about being in the workplace due to the new COVID-19 strains, while 63% of employees are uncomfortable of working alongside unvaccinated colleagues.
Such figures could be the reason why 76% of employees surveyed have expressed support for mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19, an increase from the 66% in the July to September quarter.
The findings come following the outbreak of the Omicron variant in New Zealand, with authorities making moves to stamp out its spread by implementing a three-phased response.
Read more: Employers call for more clarity for workplaces amid Omicron threat
What should employers do?
Danny Lessem, chief executive officer and founder of ELMO software, said in a statement that employers need to be prepared to manage the concerns of employees as COVID-19 impacts their wellbeing.
"Managing the spread of the Omicron variant in the workplace will need to be high on employers' agenda as 64% of workers are concerned about being at work while new variants are spreading," he said.
"However, employers might have greater means to introduce tougher COVID-19 measures with support for mandatory vaccinations in the workplace climbing to 76%."
New Zealand plans to introduce a "test to return to work" policy for critical workers should become close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases. This will only start, however, during the Phase 2 of its COVID-19 plan.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recently warned that she is expecting New Zealand's cases to peak between 10,000 and 30,000 cases a day, as the country reports record-high daily case numbers as of late.
"While there's uncertainty in case numbers, if you looked at low case profiles in a place like say South Australia and you applied that to New Zealand, you would have something like 10,000 cases a day at its peak," said Ardern as quoted by The Guardian.