Respondents also were lukewarm in their response to the national government performance during the pandemic. Forty-two percent overall said national government made available medical supplies and good treatment even in the poorest areas. Only 32% of U.S. respondents agreed. Saudi Arabia topped the list with 75%, India followed with 68%, South Korea at 52% and Canada at 51%. Japan was at the bottom of the list at 11%.
On the other hand, 49% of respondents said employers are implementing safety measures to protect workers and customers. Forty-six percent of respondents in the U.S. felt that way, while 74% in China agreed.
Turning to job loss, 80% worry about losing their jobs to automation, globalization, workforce restructuring or an economic downturn. And 56% fear long-term unemployment due to the pandemic. Manufacturing, technology, and financial services employees are most concerned about the impact the pandemic has on their job and how long it will take to find another job.
Further, more than half (56%) are concerned that the pandemic will accelerate the rate at which companies move to replace human workers with AI and robots. More financial services employees (69%) feel that way. Sixty-eight percent of technology employees, 64% of manufacturing and 63% of telecommunications workers agreed.
To increase trust, the report posits that business must join in the fight against the pandemic. In fact, 65% of employees want to see their employers get involved in some way, helping those who are suffering or risking their lives because of the pandemic. They cited actions such as donating needed equipment to hospitals, health-care facilities, and educators; and collaborating with competitors for faster development or more effective responses to the pandemic.
And as for returning to work, a majority of workers (75%) said CEOs should be conservative in their decision to getting back to business as normal, even if it means waiting it out until the virus has been brought under control.
The same can be said for government. Sixty-seven percent said government’s highest priority should be saving as many lives, even if it means the economy will sustain damage and recover more slowly. Respondents believe health-care authorities (32%) should lead in making the decision of when to return to work. That was followed by the national government at 27% and state and local government at 16%.
The online survey included 1,200 respondents each from Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.