Workers Should Still Wear Masks in the Workplace, Survey Finds

June 29, 2021
A majority of U.S. adults surveyed say that employees, even fully vaccinated employees, should continue to mask up at work.

A majority of Americans believe employees working on-site should wear masks even if they are vaccinated, a new survey finds (results of the survey can be found in the accompanying slideshow).

The survey of 2,066 U.S. adults aged 18 and up was conducted June 10-14 by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Staffing Association.

This survey was conducted two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance to say that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks or physical distance in non-healthcare settings unless required by local law or business.

These attitudes highlight divergent beliefs and comfort levels among the workforce. Employers must continue to carefully navigate and incorporate these attitudes when crafting and enforcing COVID-19 safety protocols to protect all workers.

"While government officials are rolling back Covid-19 requirements throughout the country, many workers aren't ready to give up their masks just yet," said Richard Wahlquist, president of the American Staffing Association, in a statement. "As brick-and-mortar workplaces reopen, workers are anxious about being around their colleagues once again. Employers must clearly communicate what steps they are taking to make their workplaces safe for their employees as they reopen."

See more of the results of the survey in the accompanying slideshow.

About the Author

Nicole Stempak

Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

April 25, 2025
Environmental audits should be a core part of your EHS program regardless of whether you choose to pursue ISO 14001 certification.
April 25, 2025
Streamline EHS inspections. Conduct, track, and manage inspections effortlessly with customizable checklists, real-time reporting, and actionable insights.
April 25, 2025
A winning business case is based on the ROI of the project. The essential first step is determining your EHS costs today.
April 25, 2025
The use of QR codes can greatly simplify observation, near miss, and incident reporting and improve the quantity and quality of data. The more safety information that is collected...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!