Research: Key factors fueling ‘The Great Resignation’

Editor’s note: We are re-running the top stories of 2021 as part of our year-end countdown.

As the pandemic rages on, 42% of workers are worried about returning to the workplace due to fear of contracting COVID-19. This marks a substantial jump from June 2021, when just 24% voiced that concern, according to data from The Conference Board.

“With headlines about the rise of the Delta variant, breakthrough cases among the vaccinated, and an overburdened health care system in much of the country, COVID-19 concerns that were subsiding just two months ago have risen,” says Rebecca Ray, Ph.D., executive vice president of human capital at The Conference Board.

The Conference Board’s August survey captured data from more than 2,400 U.S. workers on topics covering return-to-work anxiety, factors driving them to pursue new jobs and opinions about remote work. The findings confirm that “The Great Resignation” isn’t likely to subside anytime soon.