For release 10:00 a.m. (ET), Wednesday, February 9, 2022 USDL-22-0190
Technical Information: (202) 691-6567 * BRS_Inquiry@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/brs
Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
U.S. BUSINESS RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC — 2021
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 14.5 percent of private-sector establishments (1.2 million,
with 20.5 percent of all private-sector employment) increased base wages, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. Establishments in Accommodation and Food Services, Retail Trade, Health
Care and Social Assistance, and Manufacturing increased base wages at a higher rate than average.
Data in this release are from the 2021 Business Response Survey (BRS) to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
BRS data were collected from private-sector establishments from July 27, 2021 through September 30,
2021. Topics covered include telework, workplace flexibilities, changes in pay, COVID-19 workplace
requirements, establishment space size, relocation, supplementing workforce, automation, drug and
alcohol testing, and COVID-19 loans or grants. Detailed tables by industry, state, and employment
size are available at www.bls.gov/brs.
Changes in Pay
• Hazard pay or an hourly bonus were temporarily offered by 5.5 percent of establishments (471,000,
with 15.7 percent of all private-sector employment).
• One-time, special monetary bonuses for working during the pandemic were paid by 9.4 percent of
establishments (809,000, with 23.7 percent of all private-sector employment).
Changes in Telework
• As a result of the pandemic, 34.5 percent of establishments increased telework for some or all of
their employees.
• Among establishments that increased telework during the pandemic, 60.2 percent expect to keep the
increases permanent when the pandemic is over.
COVID-19 Vaccinations at Establishments
• COVID-19 vaccinations were required for some or all employees before coming to work on-site at
17.5 percent of establishments.
• A larger share of establishments, 28 percent, offered some or all employees a financial incentive or
paid time off, or permitted employees to remain on the clock to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Flexible or Staggered Work Hours
• As a result of the pandemic, 24.6 percent of establishments (2.1 million, with 33.9 percent of all
private-sector employment) started to offer flexible or staggered work hours to employees.
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| |
| Additional Industry, State, and Employment Size Data |
| for the 2021 Business Response Survey to the Coronavirus Pandemic |
| |
| Tables with detailed, industry, state, and establishment size class data along with highlighted |
| results, charts, and state maps can be found at www.bls.gov/brs. |
| |
| Industry, state, and establishment size class data tables are available at |
| www.bls.gov/brs/data/tables/2021. |
| |
| Industry and establishment size class charts and state maps are available at |
| www.bls.gov/brs/data/charts/2021. |
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More Information
• Data were collected from private-sector establishments only; government establishments were not
surveyed. As a result, the estimates of establishments and employment refer to private-sector establishments
and employment. Total U.S. estimates include the 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
• The full 2021 BRS Technical Note is available at www.bls.gov/brs/methods/2021-technical-notes.htm.
• An earlier survey, the 2020 BRS, asked seven questions about changes businesses made to their operations
during the pandemic through September 2020. These data are available at www.bls.gov/brs/2020-results.htm.
• Definitions for terms used in this news release are available in the BLS Glossary at
www.bls.gov/bls/glossary.htm.
United States Department of Labor
