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A new side effect of the Delta variant: 'Fear of meeting up'

As companies move ahead with return-to-office plans, many employees are suffering from a fear of meeting up, says Hibob's Rhiannon Staples.

Illustration of employees working at desks spaced apart “Instead of finding ways to get employees in the office as soon as possible, HR departments and company executives must recognize that employee expectations have evolved significantly,” says Staples. (Image: Shutterstock)

Despite the resurgence of COVID, many employers are pushing ahead with plans to bring employees back into the workplace this fall. Vaccine and mask mandates have become a hot topic, one for which there is no clear right or wrong answer. But that’s only one consideration for return-to-office planning.

A lot has changed over the past 18 months, including the way employees work and communicate, as well as how they budget their time. For many, returning to the structure format of the office comes with a long list of concerns, not the least of which is potential exposure to the still-rampant COVID virus.

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Emily Payne

Emily Payne

Emily Payne is the current deputy editor for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.

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