Factors associated with non-essential workplace attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK in early 2021: evidence from cross-sectional surveys

Objectives: Working from home where possible is important in reducing the spread of COVID-19. In early 2021, a quarter of people in England who believed they could work entirely from home reported attending their workplace. To inform interventions to reduce this, this study examined associated factors.Study design: Data from the ongoing COVID-19 Rapid Survey of Adherence to Interventions and Responses survey series of nationally representative samples of people in the UK aged 16+ years in January–February 2021 were used.Methods: The study sample was 1422 respondents who reported that they could work completely from home. The outcome measure was self-reported workplace attendance at least once during the preceding week. Factors of interest were analysed in three blocks: 1) sociodemographic variables, 2) variables relating to respondents’ circumstances and 3) psychological variables.Results: 26.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 24.5%–29.1%) of respondents reported having attended their workplace at least once in the preceding week. Sociodemographic variables and living circumstances significantly independently predicted non-essential workplace attendance: male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.33–2.58); dependent children in the household (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.17–2.32); financial hardship (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.08–1.21); lower socio-economic grade (C2DE; OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.19–2.53); working in sectors such as health or social care (OR = 4.18, 95% CI = 2.56–6.81), education and childcare (OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.45–4.14) and key public service (OR = 3.78, 95% CI = 1.83–7.81) and having been vaccinated (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.33–3.24).Conclusions: Non-essential workplace attendance in the UK in early 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly independently associated with a range of sociodemographic variables and personal circumstances. Having been vaccinated, financial hardship, socio-economic grade C2DE, having a dependent child at home and working in certain key sectors were associated with higher likelihood of workplace attendance.

研究目的：在条件允许的情况下居家办公，对于降低新冠病毒（COVID-19）传播至关重要。2021年初，英格兰地区有四分之一自称可完全居家办公的人群仍选择前往职场办公。为制定针对性干预措施以减少此类情况，本研究对相关影响因素展开了分析。
研究设计：本研究采用2021年1-2月持续开展的英国全国代表性16岁及以上人群新冠疫情防控措施依从性快速调查系列（COVID-19 Rapid Survey of Adherence to Interventions and Responses）的数据。
研究方法：本研究的分析样本为1422名自称可完全居家办公的受访者。结局指标为受访者自述在前一周内至少有一次前往职场办公。本研究将关注的影响因素分为三类进行分析：1）社会人口学变量；2）与受访者自身境况相关的变量；3）心理变量。
研究结果：26.8%（95%置信区间（confidence interval, CI）=24.5%–29.1%）的受访者表示在前一周内至少有一次前往职场办公。社会人口学变量与生活境况可显著独立预测非必要职场出勤行为：男性（优势比（odds ratio, OR）=1.85, 95%CI=1.33–2.58）、家中有受抚养子女（OR=1.65, 95%CI=1.17–2.32）、存在经济困难（OR=1.14, 95%CI=1.08–1.21）、社会经济等级较低（C2DE；OR=1.65, 95%CI=1.19–2.53）、就职于医疗、社会护理等领域（OR=4.18, 95%CI=2.56–6.81）、教育与托育领域（OR=2.45, 95%CI=1.45–4.14）及核心公共服务领域（OR=3.78, 95%CI=1.83–7.81），以及已接种疫苗（OR=2.08, 95%CI=1.33–3.24）。
研究结论：2021年初英国新冠疫情期间，非必要职场出勤与一系列社会人口学变量及个人境况存在显著独立关联。已接种疫苗、存在经济困难、社会经济等级为C2DE、家中有受抚养子女，以及就职于特定核心行业的人群，前往职场办公的可能性更高。