KUALA LUMPUR: Seventy per cent of Malaysian businesses will mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for all their staff, according to Employment Hero.
The people, payroll and benefits solution provider for small to medium businesses has today released its global report, examining the impact of Covid-19 on business owners and employees.
The survey, which involved more than 1,000 Malaysian employers and employees, found that employees too appeared to be on board, with 76 per cent agreeing to accept the vaccine, and only 7.0 per cent saying they would refuse to take the vaccine.
Co-founder and chief executive officer Ben Thompson said the mental-health fallout of Covid-19 in the workforce needed more attention.
"The workplace is an important environment to discuss mental health, but because of the stigma attached to it and the fear of job losses, many people are continuing to suffer in silence," he said in a statement today.
Thompson said employers had the opportunity to change this climate by making mental wellbeing a business priority.
"Providing employees with the right resources, supportive leadership, and taking a customised approach to mental health are great first steps," he added.
Of all the countries surveyed on the subject, Malaysian employers show the highest level of compulsory vaccination intent, versus employers in Australia (33 per cent), the United Kingdom (33 per cent) and New Zealand (35 per cent).
Despite high levels of acceptance of vaccinations among the Malaysian workforce,
The survey revealed that uncertainty of vaccine rollout timelines had left many hesitant about returning to the office anytime soon, with only 29 per cent of Malaysian employees and 31 per cent of Malaysian employers expecting to return to the office in the next six months.
As such, Malaysian employers will consider long-term remote or flexible working models to safeguard their workforce from continued restrictions and risks.
The report showcased as many as 32 per cent of Malaysian employers expecting their teams to continue working remotely or flexibly, allowing more geographic and work hour flexibility.
However, with the future of work still uncertain, stress levels among Malaysian employees (61 per cent) and Malaysian employers (58 per cent) have risen.
Many employees (47 per cent) do not feel comfortable discussing their mental health with superiors.