A new survey from Lucid and Vitreous World finds that there is growing anxiety and hesitancy about returning back to the workplace, with many workers feeling that their work environment is not welcome or supportive.
In fact, 57% of respondents said they felt anxious about returning to the office, and 26% said they felt pressured by their employer to do so.
Even more, 69% of workers said they felt their employer could have done more to help make the transition back to the workplace smoother.
Workers with physical and mental health issues also indicated that their employer is not thinking about the varying needs of each employee, with 39% of respondents with a disability saying that their condition could impact their ability to commute to the office.
“The findings from this research are a stark reminder to businesses of all sizes across the country that, despite feeling as if we are returning to business as usual, the current working environment is extremely delicate,” said Ben Hogg, Managing Director at Lucid EMEA and Asia. “UK businesses must do better to support the differing needs of the workforce, particularly as it relates to individuals across multiple diverse communities – we have really only just begun to scratch the surface in planning for an inclusive and welcoming workplace post-pandemic.”
When asked how they think leaders can create a more inclusive workforce, 26% of respondents said that offering flexible start and end times to the work day, as well as offering more recognition for employee performance could help.
