COVID-19 "VAX GAP" PUTS CO-WORKERS IN CONFLICT.

Vaccinated and unvaccinated workers are on a collision course as they return to the physical workplace and schools, according to research from Perceptyx, Temecula, Calif., an employee listening and people analytics platform.

There is a "vax gap" between these two groups: 44% of unvaccinated employees feel very little or no stress/anxiety when near other unvaccinated co-workers, but only 19% of vaccinated workers feel very little or no stress/anxiety under the same conditions. About 41% of vaccinated employees say they have "quite a bit" or "a great deal" of stress working around unvaccinated individuals.

Employers currently are picking their way through dangerous waters as they develop workplace policies designed to make all employees--both vaccinated and unvaccinated--feel comfortable working around each other.

"Employers will have to give serious consideration to the high stress levels that a majority of workers are feeling about their unvaccinated colleagues," says Brett Wells, director of People Analytics at Perceptyx. "If their concerns aren't addressed, employers could see quit rates rise even higher as the vaccinated look for remote-friendly jobs and/or offices they feel are safer."

About 45% of...