Does Your Employer Care About Your Health?

A Verywell survey shows that people want their workplaces to be more COVID-safe.

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By Paola de Varona, Associate News Editor Recently, I drove up to a Panera Bread drive-thru on a Saturday and found a sheet of paper on the intercom. "Sorry for the inconvenience, due to staffing issues, this drive-thru will be closed until further notice."   Sound familiar? It seems like everywhere I go, restaurants, stores, and establishments are short-staffed. Even TikTok's algorithm keeps showing me videos about the supply chain's labor shortage problem.   In today's newsletter, we're taking a closer look at the state of the workplace in the midst of the lingering pandemic. People are demanding more from their employers. Today's Top Story The State of COVID in the American Workplace For the past few months, COVID vaccinations have been stalling nationwide. After offering a series of incentives and rewards (lottery ticket, anyone?) to encourage vaccination, President Joe Biden shifted to a stronger approach: workplace vaccine mandates.   In early September, the Biden administration announced mandates that would affect more than an estimated 100 million workers: federal workers, federal contractors, any businesses with more than 100 workers, and any medical center funded by Medicare or Medicaid.   In Verywell Health's latest (award-winning!) vaccine sentiment survey, we found that of our respondents working in-person at least part-time, 62% estimate that the majority of their colleagues have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Forty-three percent say they work closely with someone who they believe is unvaccinated, and 39% say they are concerned about working alongside others who have not gotten the vaccine.   While these mandates are just rolling out, they're working. When faced with losing their jobs, the vaccine-hesitant are getting their shots. The great resignation isn't happening like some hypothesized it would.   What workers actually want is more COVID protections.   Forty-five percent of our respondents feel they have little to no say in their employer's COVID strategy. More than half of the people in our survey who are working in person say they have considered making changes to their working situation (including quitting) because of their employer's response to COVID-19.   The most popular request was a call for more protections, with 29% of respondents wanting their employers to provide more adequate personal protective equipment, testing, and vaccinations. Know More We're watching these feelings play out in real-time. Workers at the Kellogg company recently went on strike at several factories after failed union negotiations and two years of working in strenuous COVID conditions. Restaurant workers are also walking out after over a year spent serving unruly, unmasked, or unvaccinated customers. Feel Better If your workplace did institute flexible options during the pandemic, experts believe these accommodations are here to stay. While your employer may not offer flexible hours or work from home permanently post-pandemic, they may introduce hybrid models of working that allow for both. READ MORE Most workers want more COVID protections from their employers. Respondents in our Verywell Health vaccine sentiment survey want more work-from-home flexibility and different shifts. Your 'Depression Meal' Can Be Low-effort and Healthy Over on TikTok, people are sharing the meals they lean on when they are experiencing depression and have little energy to put toward cooking. Often, the easiest foods to reach for tend to be the least nutritious. But Verywell asked dietitians to share low-effort ways to pack in protein, high-fiber carbohydrates, and healthy fats into comfort foods. My favorite idea? A charcuterie board for one with cheese, meats, fruits, vegetables, and some nuts. No cooking is necessary. READ MORE Is It COVID or the Flu? There's a Test for That COVID-19 and flu symptoms can be similar, so how can you differentiate between them if you're feeling sick? The FDA has got you covered. The agency recently gave an emergency use authorization to an at-home joint flu and COVID-19 test collection kit. Even though typically, people who suspect they have the flu will either try to manage it at home without a diagnosis or see their care provider to get tested, this dual exam is important.   Experts say being able to distinguish between the flu and COVID-19 can impact many protocols, including quarantine times and treatment. READ MORE   Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CPT, nutrition expert at Shaw Simple Swaps, shares the one food she likes to keep on hand to elevate fast meals. Canned beans are one of my go-to choices to make simple meals happen fast. From tossing them in a tortilla with some bagged shredded lettuce and cabbage to mashing them on top of avocado toast to amp up the protein and fiber, their versatility and convenience make them a pantry staple. Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CPT Nutrition expert at Shaw Simple Swaps   Keep Reading   ■ Why So Many Products on Grocery Store Shelves Claim They Help Your Immune System. The Wall Street Journal     ■ North Carolina Poultry Workers Quit After an Unknown Chemical Was Introduced at Their Plant. The Counter     ■ A Move to Rein In Cancer-Causing 'Forever Chemicals.' The New York Times More From Verywell What's the Deal With Parabens? READ MORE 10 Breathing Exercises for Anxiety READ MORE Are You at Risk for Celiac Disease? READ MORE   How'd we do? 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