Plans to re-open the U.S. economy are under way, but a new study from Citrix finds that many workers currently working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic aren’t ready to return to the office yet. Sixty-seven percent of 2,000 US workers surveyed said they would not feel comfortable returning to the workplace for at least a month, with 28 percent saying that they would not be happy to go back to the office for at least another three months or longer.

The survey, conducted by OnePoll, quizzed knowledge workers about their sentiment toward returning to the office. Half of respondents (51 percent) admitted it would take the introduction of regular testing and health screening for all employees before they felt comfortable enough to return to the office full time, and 46 percent would need to see the rollout of an effective vaccine before they would feel entirely comfortable about returning to the workplace. Additionally, 82 percent would need to see contact tracing measures for their office via mobile apps put in place by either their business (44 percent) or the government (38 percent) to feel safe enough to return full time.

Safety Measures Critical to Rebuilding Corporate Life

When COVID-19 began its rapid spread, remote work became a mandate for many U.S. businesses but was initially seen as a short-term solution. However, the findings of the study show that since March, anxiety and reticence about returning to offices have grown, and few employees are in a hurry to give up working from home. Before workplaces reopen fully, many would like to see certain safety measures made mandatory, including:

  • Face masks worn by all employees (46 percent)
  • Disposable gloves worn by all employees (43 percent)
  • Hand sanitizer readily available throughout the office space (42 percent)
  • Health checks every two weeks with specific testing for coronavirus (41 percent)
  • Face visors/face shields worn by all employees (40 percent)
  • App installed on work-issued mobile devices to track employee movements and allow contact tracing (35 percent)

According to the OnePoll research, if no safety measures are made mandatory, 77 percent of employees surveyed will either:

  • Continue to work from home permanently, until the situation changes (45 percent), or
  • Go to the office only for specific purposes (32 percent)

Many Employees Will Continue to Work from Home

While employees favor safety precautions, the survey indicates they won’t guarantee a worker’s return to the workplace. For example, if an organization introduces mandatory contact tracing for all employees, 40 percent of those surveyed said they would continue to work from home permanently until the requirement is eased. An additional 39 percent said they would only go to the office for specific purposes, such as a mandatory meeting.

The COVID-19 situation has shown remote work to be a sustainable and productive model that some employees seem keen to continue, for at least a while longer. Recognizing this, many U.S. tech companies have extended their work-from-home policies far beyond the shelter-in-place timelines mandated by state and local authorities.

Remote Work Offers a Viable Long-Term Alternative

While in practical terms, returning workers to the office will be judged on a case-by-case basis, the survey also highlights the continued importance of offering remote work as an alternative to returning to the office, both to maintain social distancing measures and to give employees additional peace of mind.

As states move to ease lockdown requirements, companies are likely to continue to embrace flexible work models and maintain remote work programs for the long haul. After all, they’ve already seen the positive impact they can have on employee productivity, work-life balance, mental health, costs, and even the environment. In doing so, businesses will be able to manage their resources dynamically. Operating in this unpredictable and challenging landscape that is likely to persist for the foreseeable future requires an environment in which employees can continue to deliver and thrive.

Working from home, staying productive, and empowering employees is top of mind for many. Learn more about the Citrix Remote Works Series.

Survey Methodology

Citrix commissioned OnePoll to conduct an online survey of 2,000 office workers in the United States who are currently working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was completed between May 7 and May 12.