Do Employee, Consumer, Financial Leader Concerns Align in a Post–COVID-19 Workplace?

According to the most recent PwC Health Research Institute Consumer Survey results, released today, the top consumer concerns for the post—coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) period are overall health and financial well-being.

“The delivery of care may look very different after the pandemic,” the report states. “The American consumer may take a more active role in managing health and participating in a system that is being remade.”

From April 2-8, the Health Research Institute (HRI) surveyed 2533 US workers online about their health-related behaviors and concerns as they have or have not been affected by the ongoing pandemic. Although 56% and 54% are not planning on changing their spending habits toward medications or healthcare visits, respectively, 32% already have made such health-related spending adjustments. In addition, an alarming 52% worry about medication availability and 22% would skip doses to ensure they do not run out of their prescriptions. Others volunteered they would reconsider even asking for a prescription.

Meanwhile the use of telehealth continues to expand, with an overall 5% of Americans saying they or a family member have used the now-expanded offering. The top users among this group are those with chronic conditions (37%) or complex chronic diseases (32%); the healthiest are the least likely (3%).

These concerns have influenced both employee and employer behavior, in that they have caused many employers (62%) to expand their benefits offerings as a result. Employee-consumers in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector were one of the groups ”most likely to report that new benefits were bring offered.” Overall, the top new benefits include working from home (32%), expanded sick leave (17%), new telehealth options (10%), and mental health or stress-related benefits (8%).

Employers have to keep in mind, though, that it’s not just health-related concerns that are affecting their employees at the moment. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are increasingly occupying workers’ minds. There has been a 15% increase—from 53% to 61%—since the pandemic began in consumer concern centered on such SDOH as housing and childcare.

“Employers will need to become more involved in these social determinants to help keep the workforce healthy,” the report states.

With a majority of all age groups continuing to practice social distancing measures—from 58% of 18- to 24-year-olds to 95% of those 65 years or older—communication is more important than ever. Therefore, as the pandemic stretches on but the economy slowly whirs back up, employers should consider communications and interventions that match their employees’ concerns, especially health-related information.

During the pandemic, the HRI report shows, 59% of consumers have been getting their health information from the local news, 56% from the national news, and 26% from social media. Just 16% have received such information from their employers, and they view that information as less accurate. This represents “an opportunity to increase trust with employees during the pandemic by being accurate sources of health information,” the report notes.

Financial Leaders’ Perspectives

Results from a second PwC survey, PwC’s COVID-19 CFO Pulse Survey, were also released today. This biweekly inquiry has looked into the top concerns of the chief financial officers (CFOs) and finance leaders at US business since the pandemic began. The results show that the 305 such individuals surveyed between April 20 and 22 echo consumer and employee concerns in making health a top priority.

“As some states look to reopen, business leaders are recognizing they not only play a crucial role in the health, safety, and stability of their employees, but also that of their communities,” stated Tim Ryan, PwC’s US Chair and Senior Partner, in a press release announcing the results. “As we continue to navigate this crisis, I’m encouraged to see that despite difficult decisions and potential profit losses, business leaders are continuing to do what they can to put their people first and, in turn, help support local communities and economies as the nation looks to rebound.”

Due to ongoing recommendations for social distancing, 77% overall predict they will need to implement new workplace safety measures when offices start to reopen, 65% will reconfigure work sites, and 52% will use alternating schedules to stagger employee attendance. An additional 50% foresee an uptick in employee demand for enhanced sick leave policies, while 49% believe remote work is here to stay. All in the name of greater flexible work options.

Because consumer safety is also a concern, as well as a risk, a majority (54%) of healthcare CFOs have plans to implement automated work processes compared with 40% of all businesses. In connection, 70% (more than any other industry) predict an uptick in employee protection requests over the next month.

The report notes, “Healthcare organizations are simultaneously solving two critical issues: uncertainty about demand and protecting their workforce.”

The technology, media, and telecommunications sector, meanwhile, is most likely to change workplace safety measures (73%), reconfigure work sites (70%), and reduce its real estate footprint (38%).

“COVID-19 has put businesses under enormous strain to drive new ways of working,” the report concludes. “When the pandemic began, many companies put their people’s health and safety at the center of their decision-making, and they appear to be doing the same as they prepare to ramp up business.”