WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The percentage of U.S. workers saying their employer is requiring its employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 has doubled in the past month. Nineteen percent of U.S. employees now say their employer has such a policy in order for them to return to the workplace, compared with 9% in the prior survey from July, and 6% or less before that.
Fifty-five percent of employees, down from 62% in July, say their employer is encouraging but not requiring vaccinations, while 26% say their employer has not done either.
Bar graphs, May-August 2021. Trend in U.S. employees' reports of employer vaccination policy. In August, nineteen percent now say their employer is requiring employees to be vaccinated from COVID-19 in order to return to the workplace. That is up from 9% in July, 6% in June and 5% in May. The percentage who say their employer is encouraging but not requiring COVID-19 vaccination is at 55% in August, down from 62% in July and 66% in May and June.
The latest results are from the Aug. 16-22 COVID-19 tracking survey, based on web interviews with more than 1,800 U.S. workers who are members of Gallup's nationally representative panel.
The survey finds no change since July in employees' basic support for worker vaccination requirements -- 52% are in favor of them and 38% opposed. However, more in August (41%) than in July (36%) were strongly in favor of such requirements.
Most workers -- regardless of the direction of their opinion -- have strong views on the matter. In addition to the 41% strongly in favor, 31% are strongly opposed.
Bar graphs, May-August 2021. Trend in U.S. employees' opinions of employer vaccination policy. Fifty-two percent of U.S. workers in August 2021 are in favor of employers requiring employees be vaccinated, including 41% who were in strongly favor. Thirty-eight percent are opposed, including 31% who are strongly opposed. Ten percent are neutral. Since May, the level of opposition has been fairly steady, while the percentage who are neutral has declined and the percentage in favor has increased.
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