Repercussions of pandemic on wages, workplace decisions

New Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data reveals the changes businesses made in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

The BLS released the 2021 U.S. Business Response Survey to the Coronavirus Pandemic at the beginning of this year.

The survey data was collected from July 27, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2021. Here’s what we learned:

Changes in pay during pandemic

The survey showed that businesses used pay increases, premium rates and bonuses to get through the difficult time.

Among private-sector employers, 20.5% increased the base wage offered to employees.

Certain industries exceeded the average for pay increases. They were accommodation and food services; retail trade; health care and social assistance; and manufacturing.

Also, Payroll had a hand in making other business-related changes.

• 15.7% of private-sector workplaces temporarily provided employees with hazard pay or an hourly bonus.
• 23.7% of the same group gave employees a one-time, special monetary bonus for working during the pandemic.

Increased flexibility

Next, the survey also looked at telework among private-sector establishments during the pandemic.

• 34.5% of establishments increased telework for some or all employees.
• 60.2% of those establishments said they expect to keep the increases permanent when the pandemic is over.

Less rigidity with work hours also increased. Specifically, 33.9% of private-sector employers surveyed said they started to offer flexible or staggered work hours.

Vaccination info

Finally, as for vaccinations, here’s what the survey showed:

• 17.5% of establishments said they required COVID-19 vaccination before working on-site.
• 28% offered a financial incentive, provided paid time off or permitted employees to remain on the clock to get a COVID-19 vaccination.