The COVID-19 pandemic has created a mostly remote workforce in the U.S.

Despite the relaxing of shelter-in-place orders and increase in safety measures, 64% of 2,000 U.S. employees surveyed by Citrix Systems say they would not feel comfortable returning to the office for one month or more.

Last week, I asked NEWSDash readers, “Do you think some states are relaxing orders too soon, and when would you feel safe returning to the office to work?”

More than half of responding readers (58.73%) work in a plan sponsor role, 23.8% are recordkeepers/TPAs/investment consultants, 14.3% are advisers/consultants and 1.6% each are attorneys and CPAs.

Asked whether they think states are relaxing orders related to social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic too soon, 42.2% of responding readers said yes, and 28.1% indicated they think some states are and others aren’t. More than one-quarter (26.6%) said they do not think states are relaxing orders too soon, and 3.1% said they don’t know.

One to two months was the most selected time frame for when respondents would feel safe returning to the office to work, with 23.4% selecting it. For 1.6%, it’s a moot point as they are always remote employees. Among those who are already working in their office, 17.2% reported they feel safe and 1.6% said they don’t.

Two to three months was the second most selected time frame (17.2%) for when respondents would feel safe returning to work, followed by more than six months (14.1%). Nearly one in 10 said they would feel safe sooner than one month, 7.8% selected three to four months, 1.6% chose four to five months, and 6.2% said five to six months.

The majority of responding readers who left comments relayed the actions they feel are necessary for them to return to the office environment. Some just say we should get back to work. A number of readers shared what their companies are doing for return-to-work strategies. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said, “In late March, I spent 3.5 days in the hospital with Influenza B. I don’t want to meet COVID19.” So glad that reader is feeling better.

A big thank you to all who participated in the survey!

Verbatim

Need a vaccine or effective treatment first!

I think it should be delegated to each state and that state should make it regional.

Social Distancing will need to be maintained. Our financial institution moved employees to other branch locations to accommodate this. Some locations are starting to wear masks when arriving and leaving work, leaving their offices so on and so on. Our branch lobbies continue to be closed to the public with only drive thru open. I’m afraid this will be the new normal for some time to come.

My company has already said we were not going to return any sooner than Labor Day and at that point, they may delay the return and/or decide to change staff to either partial or full remote to accommodate safe distancing for employees.

My employer requires everyone to go back to the office even though most of us have worked productively from home and the general feeling is that offices pose unnecessary risk. Employees who could not work from home are still employed and also will return.

Even when we are able to reopen the office, I don’t know that our public transportation will be able to support the workers or our office able to obtain sufficient supplies (masks, gloves, soap, disinfectant). Just because we CAN return to the office doesn’t mean we all SHOULD rush back to the office.

I would feel more comfortable returning to the office if everyone practiced good hygiene (staying home when sick, washing hands frequently, etc.), the cleaning staff actually cleaned all surfaces in the office, and offices reverse the “densification” trend. Until then, I think we are all working remotely for the long haul.

I’m not comfortable returning to the office until widespread testing is available.

I currently go to the office 2-3 times a week and feel very comfortable doing so. I feel that it should be up to each employee, however, on when they go in, if possible.

We might feel safer at home, but an airborne virus can get into our homes and apartments as easily as into our office buildings! Common sense precautions go a long way!

Governors are relaxing rules when they have not met CDC guidelines and with no plan in place to monitor infection and what steps they will take if infection rates move in the wrong direction.

Like the states, my organization is taking a ‘phased’ approach, bringing back small numbers of employees at first in a very organized fashion such as to maintain proper distancing in all areas and floors of the organization, as well as increasing cleaning/sanitizing of hi-touch areas. I feel comfortable about going back to work.

I believe workplace modifications, testing and contact tracing are important first steps before attempting a safe return to work.

My thought is that even if restrictions are relaxed, I have the choice of whether I stay home or not. I would need to see that others are following the guidelines, e.g. wear a mask, 6 feet distance, no crowds, etc. before I go out.

More structure is needed; return to work too quickly will likely result in another spike in COVID-19 cases. In the rush to “return to normal” we are seeing less social distancing and a lack of facial covering/protection, putting employers in the role of “the bad guy” just trying to maintain safety and jobs.

My company will not rush to bring people back to the office. Even when I do return to the office, I plan on wearing a mask for a good long-time before being fully comfortable. I’m concerned about a second-wave of infections if trying to get back to normal is rushed.

Working remotely is NOT an option for many people. Let’s get people back to work so our economy can begin to recover.

If working from home is working for both the employee and the organization, why rush getting back into the office environment? If the predictions that a second wave of the virus will occur in the fall of this year, why would we want to return to the office only to end up going back to the work from home environment so soon? Also, what about employees who are required to return to the office and then contract the virus – what type of liability does this create for the company? Is it worth the risk right now?

Until restrictions are lifted for our most vulnerable (i.e., nursing homes and hospitals), it’s not safe for anyone to be gathering.

Let adults be adults. It’s time to get everyone back to work. People can be smart in the workplace. The government isn’t your nanny.

I prefer that there is a vaccine known to be effective and readily available to all before returning to work.

I work in risk management and have an inherent bias, but I’m not interested in returning to the office until we have a vaccine, antibody testing, and/or understand what the long-term effects of this virus are.

I don’t know when I will feel comfortable. Too much remains to be seen. What does testing look like in a few months? And are we going to see spikes in cases where things opened too soon? We have opened states and activities without a real plan or consistency.

It is dangerously selfish to open up the economy until we have much broader testing, tracing, and follow up quarantining.

In late March, I spent 3.5 days in the hospital with Influenza B. I don’t want to meet COVID19.

Adequate measures need to be in place to ensure the safety of employees—revamped worked spaces, protective masks, temperature taking. It would be nice if we could wait until a vaccine is perfected, but that may many months.

I am enjoying my time at home and would prefer to have a safe environment, rather than an environment where we have to be at work, but people are getting antsy in their homes.

Without repeated testing of everyone, it’s impossible to know when anyone has been infected that we’re in contact with. Because so many don’t display symptoms, people generally tend to think it won’t affect them, so why can’t they get back to normal—restaurants, movies, clubs, parties, etc. In my opinion, people don’t have enough critical thinking skills anymore, to be able to see that their boredom does not equate to it being safe to mix and mingle just yet. Plus, we’ve become too impatient and can’t wait longer than two seconds for a computer image to appear, let alone two months to stay at home and sequester. I understand people need to earn money, and a lot of industries have revamped to be able to go online/be virtual/be less inclined to stand shoulder to shoulder within a business. I think this period is going to end up with vast changes to how we work and socialize. At least I hope it does.

I go to the office periodically and because I’m the only one there, I feel safe within our office area. But, I am more concerned when I am out in the common areas. I look at it like I did with 9-11. I refuse to live the rest of my life in fear, so although I take extra precautions, I am not as fanatical about it as some.

As long as people remain vigilant and cautious I think we will be fine. I have worked at my office all along. No visitors or sales people. We take temperatures and wipe down constantly. I wear a mask when out in public areas. I’m good with all of that.

I’m not scared. I know how to protect myself. The only reason that would make me pause is the mask requirement. I do not want to wear it around all day.

I’m concerned about returning to cubeville. Cold and flu spread every year in the petri dish of the office. I can’t imagine COVID would fare better.

I’d really never go back if given the option.

Understand that the State (our State Governor) is promoting guidelines based on information. It is the employer’s responsibility to use the direction to provide a safe work environment. It has always been the employer’s responsibility. The threats may change but your employer should invite you back to the office when they’ve secured a safe work environment…not when State officials relax restrictions. Be safe and well (and smart about your decisions).

My comfort level in returning to the workplace is dependent on the actions my employer takes to keep EE’s safe and how quickly they ramp up the number of EE’s allowed to return.

We have been able work remotely effectively. With fears of using mass transit, and schools, summer camps and daycare closed, there is no need to rush this.

588 people die every day, every year, from the regular flu, for which we have a vaccine. Quit obsessing over the number of cases. The more we test, the more cases. Let the truly vulnerable shelter in place. It’s time for the rest of us to get back to work…