6 out of 10 parents and children consider that confinement has strengthened their bond
9 out of 10 parents and children are happy. The children's state of mind has not deteriorated compared to the previous wave of the barometer (carried out in November 2018).
9 out of 10 parents and children feel the time spent together during the lockdown has been very positive. An opportunity for parents and children to share more small everyday moments that bring people together: cooking, reading, physical activity ...
67% of parents say they have done homework or studied with their children more than usual or have started doing it while in confinement and moreover, 53% of them felt more proud than usual of s 'to be involved as well.

Close to the eyes, even closer to the heart

The last few months have not been easy for all French people. They oscillated between astonishment and adaptation. Confinement could have been difficult for some households, especially because of the stress associated with the longer time spent at home for 41% of parents and 43% of children. 79% of the children surveyed also declared that they had suffered from not being able to see their friends and classmates in real life.
Yet, contrary to what one might think, 73% of parents and 89% of children surveyed consider this experience to be positive for their family. 62% of parents and 64% of children even think that this situation has made it possible to strengthen their bond.

Parent-child barometer Kinder Ipsos Ferrero

Happiness lies in the little moments of sharing

Who says confinement, says routine!

Parents had to be imaginative to reinvent everyday life and make each moment moments of sharing and happiness. It was necessary, for example, to take advantage of the authorized daily outings. Walking was simple, easy to organize and very liberating. 97% of parents consider that physical activities are important for the development of their children. During confinement, the most reluctant were also motivated with their children since 36% of parents did more physical activities than usual or started to do it together.

Parents have redoubled their efforts to offer their children quality activities that bring people together, and this has not been in vain because 88% of parents and 91% of children feel that the time spent together during confinement has been very positive. The opportunity for them to do more than usual or to start doing certain activities together, in particular: 56% took the opportunity to cook or play, 52% said they had watched a movie, 49% had a meal together or 47 % discussed.

Parent-child barometer Kinder Ipsos Ferrero

Cooking is the activity that tops the most popular moments of sharing than usual during confinement (35% of parents and 39% of children), but other moments have also been very successful:

Cooking was the most popular time for sharing for 35% of parents 39% of children
Laughing together is one of the moments of sharing appreciated by 32% of parents 37% of children
Playing games is one of the moments of sharing appreciated by 31% of parents 40% of children
Giving kisses and hugs is one of the moments of sharing appreciated by 27% of parents 33% of children

Home school: parents improvise (good) teachers

Schools closed, this means that it was necessary for parents to take an even more important place in the education of their children. To have the lessons recited, to learn the multiplication tables or to revise the capitals of the countries of the world ..., the parents knew how to improvise school teachers.

They spent even more time with their children. 67% of them say they have done homework or studied with their children more than usual or have started doing it on this occasion. Not only did the parents take part in the children's homework, but above all 53% of them felt more proud than usual to have been involved in this way. On the children's side, 51% of them enjoyed doing their homework and / or studying with their parents as much as usual. The investment and the efforts made by the parents were therefore greatly appreciated by their children. Homeschooling was therefore a positive experience for 52% of parents and 51% of children.

(Ipsos France)

March 11, 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/famille-6-parents-et-enfants-sur-10-considerent-que-le-confinement-renforce-leur-lien

681-43-25/Country Profile: France

FRANCE3

SUMMARY OF POLLS

ASIA

(India)

52% Feel ASCI's New Rules For Influencers Will Positively Impact Social Media Interactions

Now YouGov’s latest survey reveals half of social media users in India (52%) feel positive about this decision and think it is likely to increase their interaction with an influencer’s post as it provides more transparency. One in five (21%) think it will have a detrimental impact on their engagement with posts, as they would appear like any other advertisements. One in six (16%) feel there will be no change in their social media interactions and one in ten (11%) are unsure about their behavior.

(YouGov India)

March 12, 2021

(South Korea)

Uiryeong-Gun's Re-Election Primary Election Is Unjustified

In Uiryeong-gun, about 25,000 voters and members in charge In the case of 2,500 people (approximately 10%), they expressed the opinion that if they do not double check, two votes per person will be exercised. In fact, it was confirmed that the news agency was able to provide only 8748 virtual numbers due to the lack of phone numbers of voters in response to a request for 15,000 virtual numbers to the Election Commission.

(Gallup Korea)

2021.03.13

MENA

(Jordan)

43 Percent Of Jordanian Respondents Are More Likely To Have Severe Mental Health Disorders

63 percent of the Syrian respondents depend on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and 74 percent of them need daily assistance in all life activities, of whom 48 percent do not have health insurance, and 71 percent of them have at least one chronic disease that needs treatment. Regular, 43 percent of Jordanian respondents are more likely to have severe mental health disorders compared to 59 percent of Syrians.

(Jordon Center for Strategic Studies)

March 10, 2021

(Palestine)

61% Palestinians Say That They Will Participate If New Legislative Elections Are Held With The Participation Of All Political Forces

The results of Public Opinion Poll No. 77 of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research indicate that, if new legislative elections are held with the participation of all political forces, 61% say that they will participate in them. The Hamas Change and Reform List will gain 34%, Fatah, 38%, and all other lists that had participated in the 2006 elections will gain 8% in total, while 20% have not yet decided who they will vote for.

(Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research)

March, 2021

AFRICA

(Nigeria)

Gender Equality Poll Result: Almost Two-Thirds of Nigerians Affirm Gender Disparity Nigeria

7 in 10 (73 percent) Nigerians nationwide believe that women in Nigeria face discrimination in getting into elected positions in governance or politics. More so, the top three suggestions by Nigerians on how gender inequality can be reduced were found to be: “enforce policies that will support gender equality” (36 percent), “women should have their own political party” (14 percent), and “stop the discrimination” (9 percent).

(NOI Polls)

March 12, 2021

WEST EUROPE

(UK)

Six In Ten Gen Z (58%) And Half (49%) Of Millennials Say They Need To Spend Time With Colleagues Face-To-Face

Younger workers need more time ‘in person’ with colleagues than any other generation. The research shows six in ten Gen Z (58%) and half (49%) of Millennials say they need to spend time with colleagues face-to-face in order to carry out their work effectively. However, while some want to return to the office, the desire for blended office and home working is clear: 62 per cent of Gen Z and 56 per cent of Millennials want to work from home at least three days a week after the pandemic has passed.

(Ipsos MORI)

9 March 2021

Public Opinion Of Harry And Meghan Falls To New Low After Oprah Interview

The latest YouGov data shows that 45% of Britons have a positive opinion of Prince Harry, while 48% regard him negatively, giving a net score of -3. This is a drop of 15 points from 2 March, and marks the first time attitudes have been negative rather than positive towards the prince. Meghan’s scores have also fallen considerably. Only three in ten people (31%) have a positive opinion of her, while a majority of 58% view her negatively. This means she has a net rating of -27, down from -14 just over a week ago.

(YouGov UK)

March 12, 2021

43% Of Britons Think The Economy Will Improve Over The Next 12 Months

(Ipsos MORI)

15 March 2021

(France)

One In Three Women Has Been The Victim Of At Least One Situation Of Sexual Harassment In A Public Place

It should be noted that this figure reaches 45% among women under 35 (compared to 14% of women aged 60 and over). 42% of respondents have also witnessed at least one situation of harassment (and even 51% of young women and 58% of young men). However, only one in five respondents (21%) believe that the probability of being the victim of sexual harassment in public space has increased: proof of a significant gap between perception and reality.

(Ipsos France)

March 8, 2021

Family: 6 Out Of 10 Parents And Children Consider That Confinement Has Strengthened Their Bond

Confinement could have been difficult for some households, especially because of the stress associated with the longer time spent at home for 41% of parents and 43% of children. 79% of the children surveyed also declared that they had suffered from not being able to see their friends and classmates in real life. Yet, contrary to what one might think, 73% of parents and 89% of children surveyed consider this experience to be positive for their family. 62% of parents and 64% of children even think that this situation has made it possible to strengthen their bond.

(Ipsos France)

March 11, 2021

(Germany)

Only 35 Percent Of Those Surveyed Certify That The Government Has Dealt Well With The Crisis

At the beginning of 2021, the number of those who rated the government's handling of the crisis negatively was higher than the number of those who voted positively for the first time: In January 2021, 49 percent had a negative and 46 percent a positive image. In the meantime, in mid-March 2021, 59 percent say they think the government is dealing with the pandemic badly.

(YouGov Germany)

March 12, 2021

(Spain)

58% Of The Women Surveyed Say They Feel Unsafe When Going To A Stranger's House For The First Time As Compare To 30% Of Men

58% of the women surveyed say they feel unsafe when going to a stranger's house for the first time, a figure that, in men, drops to 30%. Insecurity in this situation is greater in women between the ages of 18 and 24. On the other hand, a trip abroad without company is the second situation that causes a greater feeling of insecurity, both in men and women, where 33% of men say they do not feel safe, compared to 56% of women.

(YouGov Spain)

March 10, 2021

NORTH AMERICA

(USA)

In February 2021, 3.2% Of Respondents Were Classified As Suffering

The percentage of Americans who evaluate their lives well enough to be considered "thriving" rose to 54.0% in February, now nearly recouping the entirety of the losses since October 2019. Amid the sharply worsening pandemic, the thriving percentage had slipped to 48.2% in December, its lowest point since late April.

(Gallup USA)

MARCH 11, 2021

Nearly Six-In-Ten (57%) Say It Will Be A Year Or More Before Things Mostly Operate As They Did Before The Pandemic Struck The U.S

Nearly six-in-ten (57%) say it will be a year or more before things mostly operate as they did before the pandemic struck the U.S., including 14% who expect it will take more than two years. Women (59%) are somewhat more likely than men (53%) to believe that it will take more than a year for public activities to return to the level they were before the outbreak. Nearly two-thirds of Black Americans (64%) say it will be a year or longer, compared with smaller shares of White (56%), Asian (56%) and Hispanic adults (51%).

(PEW)

MARCH 11, 2021

In 11 States Of U.S Federal Minimum Wage Applies And In Five States With Higher Minimums

Seven states that have adopted minimum wages beyond the federal standard also have laws that prevent cities and counties from setting their own local minimums. In addition, while New York State doesn’t explicitly preempt local minimum wages, court rulings dating back to the 1960s have held that the state’s minimum-wage law implicitly does so. Many of the local preemption statutes are relatively recent. Sixteen of the 25 states with such laws adopted them within the past decade – 11 states where the federal minimum wage applies and five states with higher minimums.

(PEW)

MARCH 12, 2021

(Canada)

Only One In Four Canadians (28%) Expect Life To Return To Normal This Year; 29% Say Not Until 2023 Or Beyond

New Ipsos polling for Global News reveals that only one in four (28%) expect things to start to feel like they’ve returned to normal by this winter, including just 4% who think a return to normal will start this summer, 8% who expect it in the fall, and 16% who think they will need to wait until winter 2021-2022. Nearly one in ten Canadians (7%) are even more pessimistic, saying things will never return to normal. This feeling is strongest in Atlantic Canada (15%) and Alberta (15%).

(Ipsos Canada)

10 March 2021

Majority (58%) say Teachers Deserve Higher Pay During COVID-19

Given the challenges that come with teaching children during a pandemic, including online learning, six in ten (58%) Canadians agree (19% strongly/39% somewhat) that teachers deserve higher pay for their work during COVID-19. Conversely, 42% disagree (13% strongly/28% somewhat) with this idea. This would be a political issue however: 80% of NDP voters support such an initiative, as does a majority (68%) of Liberal voters. However, only 42% of Conservative voters would support such a pay hike for teachers.

(Ipsos Canada)

12 March 2021

AUSTRALIA

(Australia)

Movement In Melbourne CBD Plunged 89% During February Lockdown Compared To Smaller Declines In Other Cities

The short lockdowns of Greater Brisbane in January and Greater Perth in February caused large reductions in movement in both CBDs – down 74% in Brisbane CBD and down 72% in Perth CBD. However, these two lockdowns caused reductions that were noticeably lesser than those seen in the Adelaide CBD and Melbourne CBD during the respective State-wide lockdowns in South Australia and Victoria.

(Roy Morgan)

March 16 2021

(New Zealand)

3 Million New Zealanders Read Newspapers And Nearly 1.8 Million Read Magazines In 2020

3 million, or 73.9%, of New Zealanders aged 14+ now read or access newspapers in an average 7-day period via print or online (website or app) platforms. In addition, nearly 1.8 million New Zealanders aged 14+ (43.9%) read magazines whether in print or online either via the web or an app. These are the latest findings from the Roy Morgan New Zealand Single Source survey of 6,496 New Zealanders aged 14+ over the 12 months to December 2020.

(Roy Morgan)

March 16 2021

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

More Than Half (52%) Of Citizens In The 28 Countries Surveyed, Think That Gender Equality Will Revert To What It Was Before The Pandemic

Online respondents in 28 countries were asked to list the four or five most important issues facing women that will be necessary to be addressed after the Covid-19 pandemic. Although this is an issue getting attention in many countries, respondents in Turkey (56%), South Africa (52%) and Peru (51%) are much more likely than others to prioritize support for women and girls who face violence or abuse than the global country average. In contrast, this is seen as less of a priority in Russia (24%), the Netherlands (23%) and Italy (21%).

(Ipsos South Africa)

8 March 2021

A Majority (54%) Say Concerns About The Gender Pay Gap Are A Response To A Real Problem

Despite previous research showing women have been worse hit economically by the crisis, 28% of the British public say closing the gender pay gap is important and should be one of our top priorities right now – much lower than similar western European nations, such as France (51%), Spain (46%) and Italy (44%), and lower than the majority of the other countries included in the study, which are all more likely to see this issue as a greater priority at the moment.

(Ipsos MORI)

8 March 2021

The Country With The Most Favorable Results For Astrazeneca Is Great Britain, Where Only 3% Say They Do Not Want To Undergo The Oxford Vaccine

54% of Italians believe that the British vaccine is safe, compared to 16% who think the opposite. As for the trust in Oxford vaccine producers and developers, 52% of Italians believe them to be reliable, while 22% think they are not. The opinion of the Italians falls within the European average. In Germany, 43% of the population think the AZ vaccine is safe, while in France this percentage drops to 33% and in Great Britain, where AstraZeneca plays at home, it stands at 63%. Outside Europe, in the United States, 42% of the population believe the British vaccine is safe, while 18% do not believe it is reliable.

(YouGov Italy)

March 10, 2021

In 15 Of The 17 Countries Covered By The Study, A Majority Say They Intend To Spend Less: 61% Of Americans, 68% Of French People, 83% Of Italians And 86% Of Spaniards

In the United States three in ten people say they intend to increase their budget for bars and restaurants (31%), compared to only 14% who say they want to spend less. Finally, nearly half of Americans (49%) plan to return to a level of spending equivalent to the pre-pandemic level. 68% of French people, 83% of Italians and 86% of Spaniards also intend to spend less.

(YouGov France)

March 12, 2021

ASIA

681-43-01/Poll

52% Feel ASCI's New Rules For Influencers Will Positively Impact Social Media Interactions

In an attempt to help consumers identify promotional content from user-generated content, the ASCI recently introduced new draft guidelines for influencer advertising wherein social media influencers will have to prominently label any paid content or collaborations done with brands.

Even though a majority feel this way, one in five (21%) think it will have a detrimental impact on their engagement with posts, as they would appear like any other advertisements. One in six (16%) feel there will be no change in their social media interactions and one in ten (11%) are unsure about their behavior.

Thinking about the likely impact of these guidelines, a third of urban Indians agree with the statement ‘The new ASCI guidelines will encourage influencers to create more transparent and responsible content’. Slightly lesser (29%) think it will enhance the level of trust between the customers, influencers and brands or will lead to careful brand endorsements by influencers (21%).

A meagre percent foresee a negative impact: with influencers losing followers (4%) or generating less interaction for their social media posts (2%).

When asked specifically about how this development is likely to impact their own decision to follow an influencer or purchase a product based on their recommendation, more than half of urban Indians hinted towards a positive response in both these areas. In comparison to this, very few envision a negative impact on their judgement.

Millennials (57%) are more likely to feel the positive impact of ad-labelled content as compared to Gen X (51%) and Gen Z (48%) respondents.

YouGov Omnibus data collected online among around 1040 respondents in India between March 2^nd- 5^th, 2021 using YouGov’s panel of over 6 million people worldwide. Data is representative of the urban adult population in the country.

(YouGov India)

March 12, 2021

Source: https://in.yougov.com/en-hi/news/2021/03/12/majority-feels-ascis-new-rules-influencers-will-po/

681-43-02/Poll

Uiryeong-Gun's Re-Election Primary Election Is Unjustified

The power of the people It is expected that the results of the suspension of validity disposition filed with the court by three candidates, including Kang Im-gi and Son Ho-hyeon, who were eliminated from the primary, claiming that there was a serious error in the process of the re-election of Uiryeong-gun by the Gyeongnam Provincial Party, are expected to come out on the 16th.

The first hearing held on the 10th, presided over by Judge Kwon Soon-geun of the 21st Civil Affairs Department of the Changwon Court, ended at the level of reorganizing the positions of the creditors and debtors.

The noteworthy point on this day is the contents of the confirmation of facts submitted by Gallup Korea Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as Gallup Korea) on March 9.

According to the contents of the fact confirmation by Gallup Korea, which was adopted as evidence of this case, on the 4th of last month, at the request of the Gyeongnam Province Party, it was decided to participate in the two-day Uiryeong-gun candidate contest, but received from the news agency. The target sample could not be filled due to the lack of mobile phone (virtual) numbers, and the division between party members and general voters was ambiguous. It was indicated that he had conveyed his intention to renounce participation.

The representative of Everymedia Inc., a professional public opinion polling agency and a registered public opinion polling company of the Central Election Commission, said the issue in this case was due to the loss of'equivalence of votes', the basis of democratic elections, by exercising two votes per person during the contest He explained that the issue was that the candidates insisted that the contest was invalid.

President Kim emphasized that the principle of equality means that the principle of equal election, that is, the value of one vote must be the same, and if this was violated, it interfered with equal election, which is one of the four principles of election and democratic election, which is the basis of the constitution. It was said that it was like an act of breaking down.

In order to conduct a poll of 500 general citizens, CEO Kim usually needs to obtain a phone number assigned to a telecom company in proportion to the region, age, gender, and population of 15,000 (30 times) voters. In Uiryeong-gun, about 25,000 voters and members in charge In the case of 2,500 people (approximately 10%), they expressed the opinion that if they do not double check, two votes per person will be exercised.

In fact, it was confirmed that the news agency was able to provide only 8748 virtual numbers due to the lack of phone numbers of voters in response to a request for 15,000 virtual numbers to the Election Commission.

As CEO Kim's concern, it was confirmed that up to four votes per person were actually exercised in this contest, and even opinions of people from other regions were reflected.

However, Gyeongnam Provincial Party, the power of the people, said in an explanation through a media company, “There is a technical limitation in which it is difficult to confirm that it is a party unless the 8,700 members received from the election commission are individually verified.” It's done,” he made an absurd argument that doesn't make sense in common sense.

In addition, he stressed that there were no problems in the contest, saying, “4 candidates out of 17 survey agencies decided to draw two by lot.”

In response to the faction's assertion, two candidates Kang Im-ki and Son Ho-hyun emphasized that "there was no prior notice about the double investigation between the general military and the party members during the contest, and if there had been prior notice, of course, he would not have participated in the contest."

They also argue that the problem of technical limitations that the Gyeongnam Provincial Party is talking about can be solved simply with an Excel file, and the fact that 4 candidates out of 17 investigation agencies chose 2 by lot by lot. He argued that only companies could conduct a contest, and that the rest of the companies were already excluded, so the choice of companies was limited.

(Gallup Korea)

2021.03.13

Source: https://www.pressian.com/pages/articles/2021031221483436565#0DKU

MENA

681-43-03/Poll

43 Percent Of Jordanian Respondents Are More Likely To Have Severe Mental Health Disorders

Amman, Tuesday 9 March 2021, Amman HelpAge International launched a study that examined the health needs of the elderly in Jordan. This came during a ceremony organized by the organization, today, Tuesday, with the participation of representatives of civil society institutions, local, national and international organizations and the private sector. The study, conducted by the organization in cooperation with the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, aims to help achieve a broader understanding and raise awareness about the comprehensive health needs of elderly Jordanians and Syrians aged 60 years and over. In Jordan, the organization implemented this study in order to inform partners at the governmental and humanitarian levels about the main health challenges facing this marginalized group. The study that was conducted through face-to-face interviews with the elderly during the month of 8/2020, which included axes:

The results were as follows: 63 percent of the Syrian respondents depend on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and 74 percent of them need daily assistance in all life activities, of whom 48 percent do not have health insurance, and 71 percent of them have at least one chronic disease that needs treatment. Regular, 43 percent of Jordanian respondents are more likely to have severe mental health disorders compared to 59 percent of Syrians. Approximately 98 percent of respondents have some type of disability and only 2 percent have no disabilities, according to the Washington Mental and Physical Health Scale.

The study was discussed by representatives of the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Health, and the National Council for Family Affairs, in addition to an organization, HelpAge International, and there was a wide discussion about the study and the details that were addressed by the attendees and the representative committee. The participants recommended continuing efforts to promote the rights of the elderly in Jordan and to promote policies that support the preservation of their rights and their well-being.

It is noteworthy that this event is being implemented as part of the activities of the "No one leaving behind us phase II project" funded by the German government through the "Knowledge and Resources Center" in Jordan affiliated to HelpAge International, which is keen to implement and support comprehensive initiatives in the field of resilience and social cohesion. To promote the overall resilience and integration of the age provided by local, national and international organizations, private sector organizations and government.

(Jordon Center for Strategic Studies)

March 10, 2021

Source: http://jcss.org/ShowNewsAr.aspx?NewsId=891

681-43-04/Poll

61% Palestinians Say That They Will Participate If New Legislative Elections Are Held With The Participation Of All Political Forces

The presidential decree issued in mid-January is the first practical step for holding general elections, starting with elections for the Legislative Council of the Palestinian Authority on May 22. Regardless of the seriousness and possibility of holding the third Palestinian legislative elections, which were delayed or caused to be delayed for more than ten years, the forces of the left must prepare for these elections and decide what they want: is it merely survival, or working, despite their relatively small size, to be a third, effective force in the Palestinian political system?

This paper aims to discuss the left’s current options in dealing with the issue of legislative elections. It covers three such options: for the left-wing forces to contest the upcoming elections within a joint national list entailing components of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), with or without Hamas, or as a unified left list, or with individual left lists. This paper highlights some of the advantages and drawbacks of these options. It ends with a proposal for a comprehensive, unified mobilization of the forces of the Palestinian left.

Background

If new legislative elections are held next May, they will be the third elections in 27 years since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority apparatus, after the elections of 1996 and 2006. These elections will be held through a different system from the previous ones, a full proportional representation system. The results of Public Opinion Poll No. 77 of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research indicate that, if new legislative elections are held with the participation of all political forces, 61% say that they will participate in them. The Hamas Change and Reform List will gain 34%, Fatah, 38%, and all other lists that had participated in the 2006 elections will gain 8% in total, while 20% have not yet decided who they will vote for. The findings indicate that 3 blocs (including two electoral lists, representing 4 parties/factions) who have passed the electoral threshold in the 2006 legislative elections, will not be able to do so if legislative elections are held today, taking into account a margin of error of +/- 3% and the transformation of the electoral system into one of full proportional representation.

As evidenced by the results of the aforementioned poll, the parties and fronts of the so-called Palestinian left may lose half their seats that they had collectively gained in the 2006 legislative elections, which were only 9 out of 132 seats. This expected loss is the result of the failure of these parties and fronts to maintain their principles and goals and implement their programs. Despite their awareness of this and their attempt to form a body that expresses minimum unity as a third force, such as the National Democratic Union that came into existence between September 2018 and January 2019, the calculations, based on narrow interests of the leaders of these parties and fronts, have caused them to lose another opportunity to protect themselves from extinction and prevent their exit from the Palestinian political scene. The experience of the Alternative List in the 2006 elections, which consisted of the Democratic Front coalition, the People’s Party, and the Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA), was not a successful experiment in terms of persuading the masses to vote for it, because it was a temporary coalition that ended with the announcement of results, winning only two seats in those elections.

The forces of the left must realize that the Hamas-Fatah rapprochement and agreement express the depth of the crisis that the two movements have reached in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and do not express the alleged unity required to face the challenges witnessed by the Palestinians. This may be an opportunity for third or new forces to present themselves as alternatives. The depth of the Hamas crisis can be evidenced by its approval of the Fatah movement’s project based on the solution of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, at a time when many leaders of the Fatah movement themselves believe that this solution has become impossible and long dead. Likewise, the Hamas slogan of armed resistance has retreated from being a strategy to a mere tactic. This is evident in Hamas’ support, and then control, of the Return Marches that began in March 2018, as well as the fact that the last real armed confrontation with Israel was in 2014, and the various disputes between Hamas and Islamic Jihad about controlling and timing the use of arms.

On the other hand, the Fatah movement’s crisis appears to be deeper and more complex, leading it to the verge of fragmentation after its resounding failure, for more than a quarter of a century, to achieve its program based on the two-state solution, as well as its failure to build institutions capable of forming the nucleus of the state project. The slogans of “internationalization” and “changing the PA mandate” have not merely fallen, but brought the opposite results, ushering in Arab-Israeli normalization that has placed Fatah and its leadership in a spot of limited maneuver and submission, or a revolution for which it is no longer qualified. The call for a popular resistance strategy-- which was adopted by all PLO factions, as well as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, in the meeting of the general secretaries on September 3, 2020, which was held, allegedly, to confront the Deal of the Century and the wave of Arab-Israeli normalization-- has proven to be mere lip service. It has been more than six months since the first statement of the so-called Popular Resistance leadership, without the issuance of a second statement. This is evidence of a deficiency in describing the era, the program, and the appropriate tools. As a result, the call for popular resistance did not receive any response from the public. It should be noted that, according to the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Palestinian support for the two-state solution has declined from 55% in 2011 to 39% in 2020 despite the support it has from all Palestinian parties and movements (including Hamas, and with no objection from Islamic Jihad). Moreover, 62% of the public believe that this solution is no longer practical due to Israeli settlement expansion, Support for the one-state solution in historic Palestine, with equal rights for all its citizens, has risen from 27% in 2011 to 37% in 2020, despite the fact that no Palestinian party or movement has adopted this solution.

The Hamas-Fatah dyad, based on partisan quotas and interests, which has forgotten or ignored their roles as national liberation movements, is not a true division, one based on the beliefs of the masses that support them. But it will remain as such in the absence of a real, third force. Palestinians today are thirsty for a party or a movement capable of mobilizing their energies and hopes, one that addresses their minds and present a revolutionary and a realistic vision and program.

Options and a window of opportunity

According to the results of the aforementioned poll, and after adding the percentage of those who will not participate in the elections (39%) and those who have not yet decided whom they will vote for (20% of the 61% who said they will participate), the total comes to 51% of all Palestinians who are entitled to vote. Thus, there is a real chance for a new party, faction or movement to convince the 39% to participate. It is believed that the main reason for the unwillingness to participate, among a large proportion of these, is their lack of confidence in the existing parties and movements, and also, perhaps, because they are not convinced of their programs. There is also a chance to reach out to the 20% of those who plan to participate in the elections, but have not yet decided to whom they will vote (12% of the total number eligible to vote). There is even an opportunity to compete for the votes of those who have already decided whom they will vote for, if the new party or movement is able to present a new, different, and perhaps revolutionary program, in terms of its nature and tools. Thus, the percentage of those who can be persuaded may reach more than 50% of all Palestinians who are entitled to vote. In other words, if a new party or movement is able to convince only 25% of all Palestinians who are entitled to vote, this party will outperform Fatah and Hamas and become the largest force in the Legislative Council.

The Palestinian left has three options. The first is to maintain a symbolic presence in the political system, as in the first option below. The second is to seek to exercise an influential role, by creating a unified left. This option however is dependent on the failure of Fatah and Hamas to create a joint list of their own. Finally, there is an option in which the left risks increasing its weakness, and possibly eradicating it completely from the political scene, in the form of individual lists of left parties.

(1) Joint National List

With reference to the outcomes of the dialogue between Hamas and Fatah, in particular, and other factions, in general, the last of which was held at Cairo on February 8 and 9, it appears that the idea of running in the next legislative elections with a joint list that includes Hamas, Fatah and the remaining PLO factions is under serious consideration by the official bodies of Fatah and Hamas.

Fatah may wish, through this joint list, to protect the movement from the almost certain fragmentation in its ranks, by restricting the ability of its prominent leaders to form electoral lists outside the official list of Fatah (the President’s list). The results of a public poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research last December indicated that, if Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti forms a list outside the official list of Fatah, his list would gain 25% of the votes, compared to 19% for the official list of Fatah. Similarly, if Mohammed Dahlan forms a list outside the official list of Fatah, his list would gain 7% of the votes, compared to 27% for the official list of Fatah. In both cases, the “official” Fatah list will lose to Hamas, which will receive about 33% of the votes. As for Hamas, it may have submitted to the idea of power-sharing and quotas, as it was not faithful to the votes cast by the majority in the last legislative elections. Perhaps Hamas sees the joint list as an opportunity for the beginning of its accession to and effective representation in PLO institutions, and an opportunity to be rid of the burdens of governance in Gaza, as well as an opportunity for its recognition by the international community, which has boycotted the government formed by Hamas after it won the majority of seats in the Legislative Council in 2006.

As for the forces of the left (Popular Front, Democratic Front, National Initiative, People’s Party and the Democratic Union – FIDA), they seem to be powerless, seeing in the joint national list a lifeline for their symbolic survival on the political scene, after the accumulated failure of their performance and the dissolution of most of their cadres and popular bases. There is a risk that most of them will not be able to reach the threshold, and thus may fall out of the political scene, if they run the upcoming legislative elections individually. If the forces of the Palestinian left want to preserve their current symbolic existence and dispense with the ambition of an alternative or influential force, they must join the joint list with Fatah and Hamas if such a list is agreed upon, or enter a joint list with Fatah and all the PLO factions. One of the advantages of this option is that it is easy to market as a unification option required by the current conditions, to keep the forces of the left in the political scene and give them an opportunity to try to reform their situation. It is also expected that the Fatah and Hamas movements will contribute to the bulk of the cost of the electoral campaign for this joint list, thus relieving the left of much-needed financial costs. However, among the drawbacks of this option is that it keeps these forces ineffective and under the influence of the two major parties, as it is not expected that Hamas and Fatah will agree to give these forces a weight (number of seats) greater than what they had jointly gained in the 2006 elections.Their presence and influence in the likely national unity government after the elections will be limited, as the Hamas-Fatah collusion may eliminate Fatah’s need to appease these factions by giving them ministerial portfolios, as was the case in the past. This option also denies the left the distinction (if any) in its programs.

(2) United Left List

There is a great opportunity for existing third forces or for new powers, especially if they are based on a new, young leadership that has not been tainted by the corruption of the Authority and the factions that constitute it. This should be seen as a call to all young men and women of the Palestinian left, in particular, and to all young men and women of Palestine, in general (who, in the 18-39 years age group, account for more than 60% of those with the right to vote, and, for more than half of the voters, it will be the first time in their lives that they are entitled to vote, being in the 18-32 years age group) to trust themselves and not to hesitate to present new, emancipatory visions and programs of struggle that address the minds of the masses, not in the defeatist “pragmatism” or the destructive militarism way, but in the belief that the will and unity of the masses, which trust their leadership, is capable of working miracles.

The forces of the left must realize that their audience no longer accepts any excuse for the continued existence of this number of ineffective left-wing parties and fronts, especially that the key reasons for failure of all attempts to unify the left forces are considered by many as due to reasons and interests of particular leaders of those parties and fronts. Further, there is no programmatic or ideological reason that hinders this unity. Thus, one of the advantages of the option of a united left list is that it may restore some lost confidence in the parties and fronts of the Palestinian left. Several attempts have been made to accomplish this outcome. One should build on these efforts in order to achieve it in a short period of time (before the end of the candidacy period on March 31). Also, this option doubles the chances for this list to gain a number of seats that enable it to build an alliance with Fatah or Hamas, if the two parties run in the elections separately and neither gains a majority in the Legislative Council. However, one of the drawbacks of this option is that, if Hamas and Fatah are allied before or after the elections, these forces will remain weak. Even if these forces double their number of seats compared to the 2006 elections, they will not be able to rise to the level of an effective force if they do not properly appraise the conditions of the country and offer programs that treat the malaise in our political system while addressing the reasons for their own previous failures, including the inability to bring forth new leaders. The leftist forces will do better if they ally themselves with social forces and independent figures that are close to their ideology while having a a presence at the grassroot level, such as the “Wa’ad” (promise) movement for homeland, justice and democracy, which announced its formation at a press conference on February 27, 2021, in Ramallah. The movement has declared that it is not “an electoral bloc”, but will support the lists seen as close to the issues and principles that the movement upholds. It is clear that most of the initiators of this movement are members and cadres with leftist backgrounds. We should keep in mind that the left today is not engaged with the needs and concerns of citizens, and, thus, its ability to properly decipher the public scene is hampered. It should remember the popular movement to bring down the Social Security law in 2018/2019, which was one of the most important reasons leading to overthrow of the previous government. Most of the leftist forces either supported or did not oppose the aforementioned law. Rather, the leadership pushed leftist leaders to the forefront to defend that law and try to convince the masses of its value. Eventually, the movement forced the PA president to abandon the law and stop its implementation.

(3) Individual Left Lists

In the event of failure to achieve the previous options, and given the fact that there has been no change in most or all of the top decision-makers in the forces of the left since the 2006 elections, these forces may choose to run in the next elections through separate lists or in coalitions similar to Badil (alternative) that ran in the previous election. one of the advantages of this option is that it gives the forces of the left the opportunity to present their own pure programs and visions, without having to compromise. It also gives them a greater margin of freedom and maneuver for potential coalitions after the elections. One or more of these forces may gain a number of seats that would force Fatah or Hamas to seek their participation in the next government, as neither Fatah nor Hamas are likely to obtain a majority that would enable it to form a government on its own. A drawback of this option is that some forces would risk failing to meet the threshold condition, thus increasing their weakness, potentially fading out, with the exception of the “Popular Front” which probably believes that it retains its presence and base of popularity to enable it to pass the threshold. Yet, this will not suffice to make it an influential force. Likewise, individual electoral campaigns for each list will multiply the demands on and deplete the financial resources of those forces that are in dire need of them. The left’s lack of financial resources has been the price it paid for submitting to the dictates of the PLO leadership which denied it the right to its legitimate share in the National Fund, allowing Fatah and its president to monopolize these resources and blackmail them on more than one occasion. Under this option, leftist factions will be forced to compromise further on their principles after the elections.

What to do?

To be an effective third force, the factions of the left must double their efforts, today, not only to maintain a presence in the Palestinian political scene, as in the first and second options, but to contribute to determining the next Palestinian domestic direction and the future direction of the relationship with Israel. The left and other third party fronts in the PLO, along with newly emerging parties wishing to be an alternative or influential third force, must review and study the causes of the “national project’s” crisis and the reality and the future of the PLO and its liberation program. The parties and fronts of the third force must also study the causes of failure of the aforementioned strategies and reconsider the reading and characterization of the status quo to be able to provide real programs and tools, removed from slogans. This requires a review of the pillars of the status quo and how to deal with them. For example, many leaders of these parties and fronts describe the situation that exists between the river and the sea as a reality of one state, ruled by Israel as “an apartheid system.” This is true, but how can this reality be marketed to the world to end it, given the continued existence of the PA apparatus? Here, it must be recalled that the majority of the Palestinian public (55%) sees the continued existence of the PA as a burden on it and on its cause.

The forces of the left that wish to become an alternative influential third force must instate a dramatic change that restores the confidence of their cadres and popular bases in them. They must take quick, practical steps, for example by electing or selecting a committee for unity and elections, from outside the governing bodies of each front/party, because these bodies have proved that they are part of the problem and cannot to be part of the solution. The public is eager to see new, young faces. The members of these committees may all be candidates for the upcoming legislative elections on a united left list. These committees should convene for several days to elect a leadership committee of 21 members from among them (it should be named the Higher Committee of Unity), with one representative, at least, of each party/front. This committee should make its decisions by an absolute majority (50%+1), in order to prepare the election program and everything related to the election campaign, and its decisions should be binding for the participating parties and fronts.

Among the disadvantages of this proposal is the lack of time (before the end of the candidacy period on March 31). Also, there does not seem to be real will among the leaders of the target forces to waive the privileges that they currently enjoy; rather, they will probably seek to uphold them. On the other hand, one of the advantages of this proposal is that it may be able to restore the confidence and energies of all the cadres and bases of the left forces, and may even represent a breakthrough, capable of attracting broad groups of society, as mentioned previously. This proposal, if adopted, make it more likely that the left will be better prepared to understand the nature of the status quo and present a political program that bypasses the challenges that led to the failure of previous strategies and slogans. If this happens, the leftist forces, with this new reality, will have a strong and influential presence in the political system, whether they are part of the government or the opposition.

(Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research)

March, 2021

Source: https://www.pcpsr.org/en/node/835

AFRICA

681-43-05/Poll

Gender Equality Poll Result: Almost Two-Thirds of Nigerians Affirm Gender Disparity Nigeria

Abuja, Nigeria. March 8^TH, 2020 – A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that 61 percent of Nigerians nationwide think that there is discrimination against women in the country. Additionally, analysis of respondents by geographical location shows that the South-South zone at 73 percent had the highest percentage of Nigerians that stated there is gender discrimination against women in Nigeria, while North-Central at 53 percent accounted for the lowest percentage.

Furthermore, the survey showed that in terms gender discrimination in Politics, Family, Work place and Education there is huge gender disparity in all areas. With the exception of education where 60 percent of Nigerians believe that women in Nigeria enjoy better inclusion.

More findings from the poll clearly revealed that about 7 in 10 (73 percent) Nigerians nationwide believe that women in Nigeria face discrimination in getting into elected positions in governance or politics. Additionally, analysis also showed that women face discrimination in getting into professional leadership positions. More so, the top three suggestions by Nigerians on how gender inequality can be reduced were found to be: “enforce policies that will support gender equality” (36 percent), “women should have their own political party” (14 percent), and “stop the discrimination” (9 percent). Also, the poll showed that Nigerians perceived poor effort on the part of the Federal Government in addressing issues related to women in Nigeria; especially in the area of ‘Female Genital Mutilation’, ‘Domestic Violence’, ‘Sexual Harassment’ and ‘Early Child Marriage’.

Finally, the poll disclosed that religion plays a huge in gender discrimination in Nigeria as 61 percent of Nigerians nationwide asserted. Moreover, analysis across the two major geo-divider shows that more respondents who resides in the Northern region think that religion plays a huge role in gender discrimination than the Southern counterpart; averaging 65 percent and 56 percent respectively across the region. The poll having gauged the perception of Nigerians on gender equality in Nigeria, specific sector focused inclusion of women, the discrimination of women in getting into elected and professional leadership positions, suggestions on improving gender parity, government efforts in addressing gender related issues as well as the role of religion in gender discrimination. Having brought this to fore, it is imperative that all the ministry of women affairs and social development, policy makers, civil society organizations and all relevant stakeholders synergize to addresses the issue raised by this poll. Thereby ultimately improving gender parity in the country. These are the key highlights from the gender equality poll conducted in the week commencing 1^st March 2021.

Survey Finding

Overall, the survey revealed that only 39 percent of Nigerians nationwide actually think that there is equality in Nigeria. This implies that only about 4 in 10 (39 percent) Nigerians nationwide think that there is gender parity in the country. Additionally, the analysis of respondents in this category by gender, geopolitical zones and aged- groups clearly shows that there is a high level of gender disparity in Nigeria.

On the contrary, 61 percent of Nigerians nationwide do not think that there is gender parity in the Nigeria. Hence, the outlook here is that 6 1n 10 (61 percent) Nigeria nationwide stated that they do not believe that there is gender parity in a Nigeria. A quick analysis of respondent who do not think that there is gender parity in the country across geopolitical zones revealed that the south- south zone at 72 percent accounted for the highest proportion of Nigerians nationwide who do not think that parity in the nation, while North-central zone at 53 percent accounted for the region with the lowest proportion of Nigerians in this category.

LEVELS OF AGREEMENT ON GENDER EQUALITY

POLITICS

Concerning the level of gender inclusiveness across work place and fields of human endeavor; the analysis of results shows that in terms of political inclusion, only 32 percent (6 + 26) of Nigerians nationwide agreed that there is gender equality across the political space in Nigeria. On the contrary, analysis revealed that 63 percent (43 + 20) percent of Nigerians nationwide disagreed that women are actually given equal opportunity as men in the area of politics in Nigeria. Clearly, 63 percent of Nigerians think that there is serious gender disparity when it comes to the involvement of women in politics in Nigeria. However, 5 percent of Nigerians nation were indifferent about the state of gender equality in politics.

FAMILY

More so , with regards to giving women equal opportunities as men in families across Nigeria, the analysis of survey results bares that 34 (29 + 5) percent of Nigerians nationwide agreed that women are currently being given equal opportunities as men across Nigerian families nationwide. On the contrary, 55 (41 + 14) percent Nigerians nationwide disagreed. To them women are not currently given same opportunities as men in their respective families. Almost (6 in 10) Nigerians nationwide held the belief that women are currently not been giving equal opportunities as males in their families. Interestingly, about 12 percent of Nigerians nationwide were indifferent about the current state of gender equality across Nigerian families.

WORK PLACE

Additionally, in terms workplace inclusion of women In Nigeria, the analysis of survey results bares that 48 ( 8 + 40 ) percent of Nigerians nationwide agreed that women are currently given equal opportunities as males across work places in Nigeria. Contrarily, 41 (32 + 9) percent of Nigerian Nationwide disagreed that women are currently been given equal opportunities as males across work places in the country.

EDUCATION

Consequently, the analysis of women inclusion in the area of Education revealed that 60 (43 + 17) percent of Nigerians nationwide agreed that women are currently been equal opportunities as males in Nigeria in the area of education. On the contrary, 34 (26 + 8) percent disagreed that women are currently been equal opportunities as males in Nigeria in the area of education. Also, analysis revealed that 7 percent of Nigerians nationwide were indifferent regarding the current state of education inclusion of in Nigeria.

DISCRIMNATION OF WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE AND POLITICAL LEDERSHIP POSITIONS

Subsequently, the survey sought to determine the opinion of Nigerians nationwide on the discrimination of women in governance or political leadership positions in Nigeria. Hence, the analysis of survey results revealed that 73 percent of Nigerians nationwide stated that women face discrimination in getting into governance or political leadership positions in Nigeria. Furthermore, the analysis of respondents in this category across gender, geopolitical zones and age – groups shows that at least 7 in 10 Nigerians nationwide agreed that women face discrimination in getting into elected positions in Nigeria.

On the contrary, 27 percent of Nigerians nationwide stated that women in Nigeria do not face discrimination in getting into elected positions in Nigeria. This implies only about 3 in 10 (27 percent) Nigerians think that women find it easy to get into elected positions in the country.

DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN IN GETTING INTO PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Furthermore, the survey sought determine the perception of Nigerians regarding the discrimination of women in getting professional leadership position across in country. Hence, the analysis of survey results showed that 68 percent of Nigerians nationwide stated that women face discrimination in getting professional leadership roles in the country. This implies that about 7 in 10 (68 percent) Nigerians nationwide believe that women do face discrimination and difficulties in getting professional leadership positions in Nigeria.

On the contrary, the poll revealed that 32 percent of Nigerians nationwide do not believe that women face any kind of discrimination in getting into professinal leadership positions in Nigeria.

SUGGETIONS ON REDUCING GENDER INEQUALITY IN NIGERIA

The top three suggestions by Nigerians on how gender inequality can be reduced were found to be: “enforce policies that will support gender equality” (36 percent), “women should have their own political party” (14 percent), and “stop the discrimination” (9 percent).

FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS’ EFFORTS IN TACKLING SOME MAJOR GENDER ISSUES

In furtherance, the poll sought to determine the opinion of Nigerians regarding the effort of the government in addressing gender in the country.

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)

Therefore, the analysis of results shows that only 40 (12 +28) percent of Nigerians nationwide stated that the federal government has to not an extent addressed the issues of FGM in Nigeria. On the contrary, 50 percent of Nigerians nationwide Nigerians nationwide believe that the government has addressed issues of FGM in the country to an extent, 10 percent of Nigerians nation are still indifferent concerning government efforts so far in addressing FGM in Nigeria.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

In relation to the federal governments’ efforts in addressing and curbing issues of domestic violence in the country, the analysis of results revealed that 43 (13 + 30) percent of Nigerians nationwide think that the federal government has to no extent addressed the issue of domestic violence in Nigeria. Also, analysis revealed that 46 (33 + 13) percent Nigerians nationwide think that the federal government has to an extent addressed the issue of domestic violence in Nigeria, while 11 percent of Nigerians nationwide were indifferent regarding federal government efforts in addressing the issue of domestic violence in Nigeria

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Concerning the federal governments’ efforts in addressing and curbing issues of sexual harassment in the country, the analysis of results revealed that 44 (14 + 30) percent of Nigerians nationwide opined that the federal government has to no extent addressed the issue of sexual harassment in Nigeria. Also, analysis revealed that 46 (35 + 11) percent Nigerians nationwide think that the federal government has to an extent addressed the issue of sexual harassment in Nigeria. Interestingly, 10 percent of Nigerians nationwide were indifferent regarding federal government efforts in addressing the issue of sexual harassment in Nigeria

EARLY MARRIAGE

Regarding the federal governments’ efforts in addressing and curbing issues of early marriage in the country, the analysis of results revealed that 49 (31+ 18) percent of Nigerians nationwide opined that the federal government has to no extent addressed the issue of early marriage in Nigeria. Also, analysis revealed that 41 (31 + 10) percent Nigerians nationwide think that the federal government has to an extent addressed the issue of early marriage in Nigeria. Interestingly, 10 percent of Nigerians nationwide were indifferent regarding federal government efforts in addressing the issue of early marriage in Nigeria.

PERCEPTION ON THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN NIGERIA

Finally, the survey sought to determine the opinion of Nigeria on the influence of religion gender discrimination in Nigeria. Hence, the analysis of survey results revealed that 61 percent of Nigerians nationwide opined that religion plays a role in gender discrimination in Nigeria. Additionally, analysis across the two major geo-divider shows that more respondents in the northern divide think that religion plays a huge role in gender discrimination than those in the southern divide; averaging 65 percent and 56 percent respectively across geopolitical zones.

CONCLUSION

The poll having gauged the perception of Nigerians on gender equality in Nigeria, specific sector focused inclusion of women, the discrimination of women in getting into elected and professional leadership positions, Suggestions on improving gender parity, government efforts in addressing gender related issues as well as the role of religion in gender discrimination. Results revealed that there is serious gender disparity in the country majorly fueled by religious beliefs. In terms of the sector focus inclusion of women, the analysis of results revealed that women Nigeria only enjoyed good inclusion in the educational sector, while other focus areas for this poll: family, politics and workplace showed a need for more representation and inclusion as there still a huge gender disparity in this area.

Furthermore, the poll also revealed a huge gender disparity in the area of women getting into elected and professional leadership positions and a perceived poor effort on the part of the federal government in addressing issues affecting women in the country. Having brought this to fore it is imperative that all the ministry of women affairs and social development, policy makers, civil society organizations and all relevant stakeholders synergize to addresses the issue raised by this poll. Thereby ultimately improving gender parity in the country.

(NOI Polls)

March 12, 2021

Source: https://noi-polls.com/gender-equality-poll-result/

WEST EUROPE

681-43-06/Poll

Six In Ten Gen Z (58%) And Half (49%) Of Millennials Say They Need To Spend Time With Colleagues Face-To-Face

Research from Nationwide and Ipsos MORI reveals that many young people wish to work from home for 3 days a week or more post-pandemic, but also need face-to-face time with colleagues to carry out their work. They are also more likely to state that working from home puts pressure on their health and wellbeing.

However, while some want to return to the office, the desire for blended office and home working is clear: 62 per cent of Gen Z and 56 per cent of Millennials want to work from home at least three days a week after the pandemic has passed.

Half (50%) of Gen Z and 43 per cent of Millennials who are currently working from home at least some of the time, say that doing so has put undue pressure on their health and wellbeing. More than half (54%) of Millennials also say their overall mental health has worsened during the pandemic, and just under half (49%) of Gen Z and 55 per cent of Millennials feel under pressure to perform at their best when working from home.

Dr Linda Papadopoulos said:

One of the most important developmental milestones for young adults is establishing a professional identity and as such, work opportunities and professional relationships play a huge role in this. COVID has taken away the opportunity to have that crucial in-person and ad-hoc contact that helps build a professional identity. By virtue of the fact that we are communicating only on-line communication has become more purposeful: and while this may be useful in some cases when it’s the only way we communicate we miss out on the social and professional benefits of informal catchups where one could float ideas, get advice or indeed build informal mentoring relationships.
On a positive note however, young people have a natural thirst for this and will be a driving force as we enter a new world of work – bringing energy to collaborative workspaces or traditional offices. It will be very different to what we’ve experienced so far, but it will give people the control to shape their work-life balance in ways never seen before. It’s great to see Nationwide championing a flexible working approach on where and when their staff work, by helping them to find a work pattern which balances their work and life.

Jane Hanson, Chief People Officer at Nationwide, said:

COVID-19 forced a sudden switch for all of us. Within a matter of hours everyone who could work from home was faced with navigating video calls and lack of contact across a full five-day week with the added intensity of no face-to-face in person social contact. As this has been far from the usual circumstances of working from home there have been challenges across all age groups, but younger workers in particular have faced either significant job losses or struggled to work away from senior colleagues.
While it is too soon to say what a true hybrid of remote and office-based working will look like, it’s clear that there is huge opportunity for a better work-life balance. Throughout the pandemic, the wellbeing and mental health of our people has been at the centre of everything we do, and the things we’ve learnt during the pandemic are ones we should not forget.

Billie Ing, Head of Trends at Ipsos MORI, said:

This research has shone a light on the health and wellbeing challenges that younger generations have faced during the pandemic – perhaps exacerbated by difficult living conditions, such as cramped rented accommodation and a lack of dedicated workspace – which has meant that working from home has been tough. Despite this – many young people still have the desire to work from home once the pandemic has passed; a dichotomy that employers and employees will have to navigate together once the ‘new normal’ is here.”

(Ipsos MORI)

9 March 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/young-people-and-working-home-wfh-pandemic

681-43-07/Poll

Public Opinion Of Harry And Meghan Falls To New Low After Oprah Interview

More people than not now have a negative view of Prince Harry, while public opinion of other senior royals largely remains unchanged

Harry and Meghan did not pull their punches when interviewed by Oprah. They made allegations of racist attitudes from members of the royal family and press, and revealed Meghan’s struggles with her mental health. But the latest YouGov data shows it has not done the couple any favours with the public. While their popularity ratings saw a small uplift ahead of the interview, they have since declined again and are now at their lowest ever level.

Meghan’s scores have also fallen considerably. Only three in ten people (31%) have a positive opinion of her, while a majority of 58% view her negatively. This means she has a net rating of -27, down from -14 just over a week ago.

Public opinion on the couple has consistently varied across age groups. A majority of 18-24 year olds (55%) like Meghan, while only a third (32%) dislike her. The same is true for Harry, with three in five Britons aged 18 to 24 (59%) having a positive opinion of him, and only three in ten (28%) dislike him.

In contrast, most people aged 65 and older dislike both Harry (27% positive vs 69% negative) and Meghan (13% vs 83%).

Dispute has had limited impact on public’s view of senior royals

Despite Britons being split on whether the Royal Family has treated Harry and Meghan fairly, the data suggests the row has not damaged the popularity of other royals.

The only noticeable shift since the interview is in how Britons regard Prince Charles. Two in five people (42%) now have a negative opinion of him – up from 36% on 2 March. Meanwhile, the share who view him favourably has dropped from 57% to 49%.

The other royals’ popularity remains unchanged. Britons continue to be most fond of the Queen, with four in five people (80%) liking her, and only 14% having a negative opinion of her.

Prince William and his wife Kate are also very popular, with about three quarters of Britons giving them favourable reviews.

Has Harry and Meghan’s dispute damaged the monarchy?

In the past days, many royal commentators have speculated over what the feud will mean for the monarchy.

At first glance, our polling suggests that public attitudes have not shifted considerably. Over three in five people (63%) say Britain should continue to have a monarchy, compared with 67% in October last year. Meanwhile, a quarter (25%) now want an elected head of state, up from 21%.

There continues to be strong support for Britain continuing to have a monarchy across all age groups except the youngest. Britons aged 18-24 now say they prefer an elected head of state to a monarchy by 42% to 37% - although please note that this is within the margin of error. This compares to 34% who said they would rather have an elected head of state in October 2020 (although note again that this shift is within the margin of error).

There's still strong support for Britain continuing to have a monarchy across all age groups except for the youngest

(YouGov UK)

March 12, 2021

Source: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2021/03/12/public-opinion-harry-and-meghan-falls-new-low-afte

681-43-08/Poll

43% Of Britons Think The Economy Will Improve Over The Next 12 Months

Nine in ten say government has done a good job on vaccinating the public quickly
Ratings for Keir Starmer are less positive with Labour leader dipping into negative territory in his leader satisfaction scores for the first time in the series

Ipsos MORI’s latest Political Monitor reveals 43% of Britons think the economy will improve over the next 12 months (up 14 points from last month), 14% say it will stay the same (up 5), while 41% think it will get worse (down 19), giving an Economic Optimism Index score of +2 (compared with -31 in February). This is the most optimistic the British public have been on the economy since 2015 and the largest month on month improvement (a swing of 16.5 points) since our polling began in 1978 – although the fall in optimism at the start of the pandemic was even greater (when our Economic Optimism Index fell from -13 in February 2020 to -54 in March).

Economy Other key findings in detail (changes from February unless otherwise stated):

Leader Satisfaction ratings

42% are satisfied (+1) with the way the government is running the country, 49% dissatisfied (-2). Net -7. 44% satisfied (+2) with Boris Johnson as PM, 51% dissatisfied (nc). Net -7.
33% satisfied with Keir Starmer as Labour leader (-7), 42% dissatisfied (+7). Net -9. This is his first negative net score in our figures since becoming leader (although this is better than his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn after his first year, and comparable with Ed Miliband and David Cameron’s ratings after their first year).
15% satisfied with Ed Davey as LibDem leader (+1), 28% dissatisfied (-12). Net -13. Conservative supporters are more satisfied with Boris Johnson (83%, up 4 points) than Labour supporters are with Keir Starmer (52%, down 6 points).

Handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccines

When it comes to handling the Covid-19 pandemic 41% say the Government has handled it well (+3) while 44% say badly (-2).
Boris Johnson has also seen a slight improvement with 43% saying he’s handled the pandemic well (+4) and 46% badly (nc).
Scores have dampened for Keir Starmer with 26% saying he’s handled the crisis well (-6) and 26% badly (+4).
Rishi Sunak remains popular with 55% saying he’s handled the crisis well and 20% badly (no change).
Meanwhile scores for Health Secretary Matt Hancock show 38% think he’s handled the pandemic well (-2) and 42% badly (+1).

COVID-19 ratings

Public satisfaction with the vaccine programme remains high, and has improved even further since last month. 88% think the government has done a good job at ensuring the public are vaccinated as soon as possible (up from 78% last month), including 85% of Labour supporters.

Who makes the most capable Prime Minister?

Boris Johnson is ahead of Sir Keir Starmer as the “most capable Prime Minister” by 47% to 37%. This is a slight improvement for Boris Johnson compared with June last year when it was 43% vs. 38%.

Capable PM

When asked if Boris Johnson has what it takes to be a good Prime Minister, 43% agree and 45% disagree, little change from last month. When the same was asked about Keir Starmer 30% said they agree (-6) and 35% disagree (+10). And when asked if Chancellor Rishi Sunak has what it takes, a third (33%) say they agree while 29% are negative (little change).

Voting intention

If an election was held tomorrow the vote shares would be: Conservative 45% (+3); Labour 38% (nc); Liberal Democrats 6% (-1), Greens 5% (-3).

Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos MORI, said:

Although we shouldn’t be complacent that the pandemic is beaten yet, there are clear signs that the public is becoming more optimistic that Britain’s economy can bounce back from the hit it has taken over the last year, fuelled by very positive ratings about the vaccine rollout which have increased even further this month. Ipsos MORI has been tracking Britain’s economic optimism for over 40 years, and never have we seen a bigger drop than at the start of the pandemic, nor a bigger rise than we see now one year on (admittedly from a low base), highlighting the huge impact the virus has had on the country. Even so, there are some groups – women, working age adults, social grades DE and in the north of the country – who are not as optimistic as others, and the recovery will need to deliver for them too.

(Ipsos MORI)

15 March 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/ipsos-mori-political-monitor-britain-sees-surge-economic-optimism

681-43-09/Poll

One In Three Women Has Been The Victim Of At Least One Situation Of Sexual Harassment In A Public Place

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, one in three women has been the victim of at least one situation of sexual harassment in a public place, a particularly strong figure given the limited period (more or less 1 year depending on the country).
It should be noted that this figure reaches 45% among women under 35 (compared to 14% of women aged 60 and over). 42% of respondents have also witnessed at least one situation of harassment (and even 51% of young women and 58% of young men). However, only one in five respondents (21%) believe that the probability of being the victim of sexual harassment in public space has increased: proof of a significant gap between perception and reality.

In addition, more than in 2019, a large number of women claim to adapt their behavior to avoid being harassed in the street: 75% of them avoid certain places (+10 points vs. 2019), 59% adapt their clothes. And their appearance (+9 points vs. 2019), and 54% avoid certain modes of transport (+10 points vs. 2019). In general, young women adapt their behavior even more than average.
Overall, these figures reflect an anxiety-provoking context in society: 72% of respondents believe that wearing a mask allows stalkers to hide and feel untouchable.

(Ipsos France)

March 8, 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/le-harcelement-de-rue-un-probleme-majeur-meme-en-periode-de-pandemie

681-43-10/Poll

Family: 6 Out Of 10 Parents And Children Consider That Confinement Has Strengthened Their Bond

6 out of 10 parents and children consider that confinement has strengthened their bond
9 out of 10 parents and children are happy. The children's state of mind has not deteriorated compared to the previous wave of the barometer (carried out in November 2018).
9 out of 10 parents and children feel the time spent together during the lockdown has been very positive. An opportunity for parents and children to share more small everyday moments that bring people together: cooking, reading, physical activity ...
67% of parents say they have done homework or studied with their children more than usual or have started doing it while in confinement and moreover, 53% of them felt more proud than usual of s 'to be involved as well.

Close to the eyes, even closer to the heart

Parent-child barometer Kinder Ipsos Ferrero

Happiness lies in the little moments of sharing

Who says confinement, says routine!

Parent-child barometer Kinder Ipsos Ferrero

Cooking is the activity that tops the most popular moments of sharing than usual during confinement (35% of parents and 39% of children), but other moments have also been very successful:

Cooking was the most popular time for sharing for 35% of parents 39% of children
Laughing together is one of the moments of sharing appreciated by 32% of parents 37% of children
Playing games is one of the moments of sharing appreciated by 31% of parents 40% of children
Giving kisses and hugs is one of the moments of sharing appreciated by 27% of parents 33% of children

Home school: parents improvise (good) teachers

(Ipsos France)

March 11, 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/famille-6-parents-et-enfants-sur-10-considerent-que-le-confinement-renforce-leur-lien

681-43-11/Poll

Only 35 Percent Of Those Surveyed Certify That The Government Has Dealt Well With The Crisis

In mid-March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. Since then, the YouGov Corona Tracker has recorded continuous data relating to the coronavirus. The assessment of the Germans that the government is dealing well with the corona virus has been consistently high since then. It peaked in mid-April 2020 when 73 percent of Germans stated that the government was handling the crisis well.

A look at the past seven months shows that the Germans' assessment of this question has deteriorated due to the second corona wave, the long winter lockdown and the start of the vaccination. Whereas in September 63 percent still rated the government's conduct as good, the number fell to 53 percent in December 2020 and to 43 percent in February. Currently, only 35 percent of those surveyed certify that the government has dealt well with the crisis.

Mostly negative perception of the government's handling of the crisis

AT THE BEGINNING OF 2021, FOR THE FIRST TIME, MORE CRITICAL THAN LAUDATORY VOICES

These are the results of the regularly updated COVID-19 tracker from the international Data & Analytics Group YouGov, for which around 14,500 people were surveyed using standardized online interviews from September 2020 to mid-March 2021. The results are weighted and representative for the German population aged 18 and over.

(YouGov Germany)

March 12, 2021

Source: https://yougov.de/news/2021/03/12/ab-2021-mehr-kritik-als-lob-zum-umgang-der-regieru/

681-43-12/Poll

58% Of The Women Surveyed Say They Feel Unsafe When Going To A Stranger's House For The First Time As Compare To 30% Of Men

On the occasion of the celebration of International Women's Day, at YouGov Spain we have carried out a study to evaluate the difference in the perception of security felt by men and women in the same situation. To analyze the feeling of security, we presented the respondents with several situations to which they had to answer whether, within these, they would feel, or not, safe.

A trip abroad or visiting the house of an unknown person are the situations that cause the greatest mistrust in both women and men

Nighttime activities, such as taking the car or walking down the street, are also perceived differently between men and women. More than five out of 10 women (53%) say they do not feel safe walking alone at night, compared to 13% of men who give the same answer. The difference in safety between genders is also noticeable when it comes to taking the car without daylight, since 15% of women do not feel safe doing it, compared to 8% of men.

The situations in which there is a smaller difference in the feeling of insecurity between genders are driving alone or alone during the day, with a percentage difference of 2 points, taking public transport, with a percentage difference of 4 points and going to the gym, where a 15 % of men declare feeling insecure, compared to 14% of women.

(YouGov Spain)

March 10, 2021

Source: https://es.yougov.com/news/2021/03/10/la-percepcion-de-seguridad-diferencias-entre-hombr/

NORTH AMERICA

681-43-13/Poll

In February 2021, 3.2% Of Respondents Were Classified As Suffering

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The percentage of Americans who evaluate their lives well enough to be considered "thriving" rose to 54.0% in February, now nearly recouping the entirety of the losses since October 2019. Amid the sharply worsening pandemic, the thriving percentage had slipped to 48.2% in December, its lowest point since late April.

Line graph. The percentages of Americans whose life evaluations are at a sufficiently high level to be considered thriving, from 2008 to 2021. In February 2021, 54.0% of Americans rated their lives high enough to be considered thriving, up from 51.2% in January.

The most recent results, captured Feb. 15-21, 2021, are based on web surveys completed with 3,735 U.S. adults as a part of the Gallup Panel, a scientifically populated, non-opt-in panel of about 120,000 adults across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Gallup classifies Americans as "thriving," "struggling" or "suffering" according to how they rate their current and future lives on a ladder scale with steps numbered from 0 to 10, based on the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale. Those who rate their current life a 7 or higher and their anticipated life in five years an 8 or higher are classified as thriving.

Over the course of 2008, during the Great Recession, 48.9% of U.S. adults were classified as thriving. The lowest individual monthly ratings that year came in the fourth quarter, including 46.7% in October, 46.4% in November and 46.7% in December. These remained the three lowest levels assessed by Gallup over the entire 13+ years of measurement until the final week of April 2020, when the 46.4% mark was again reached. The percentage of Americans estimated to be "suffering" has remained steadily low throughout the pandemic and in line with pre-COVID-19 estimates. In February 2021, 3.2% of respondents were classified as suffering.

Satisfaction With Current Life Rebounds in February

Americans' current life satisfaction was the major driver of the initial decline in the thriving percentage in 2020. By late April, the percentage of American adults who rated their current lives a "7" or higher had plunged about 11 percentage points, even as the anticipated life satisfaction five years forward had improved. And as with the decline in the thriving percentage, its subsequent improvement has been heavily influenced by the rebound in current life satisfaction, up over six points since late April.

Notably, however, even as current life satisfaction has risen in recent months, anticipated life satisfaction remains elevated in comparison with pre-COVID levels. These results are possibly a reflection of the suppressed current life ratings but nevertheless potentially signal an opportunity for the thriving percentage to continue to improve in the coming months.

U.S. Adults' Current and Anticipated Life Satisfaction, Trended

Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time? On which step do you think you will stand about five years from now?

COVID-19-Era Spikes in Daily Stress and Worry Continue to Recover

In addition to the general life ratings, Gallup also tracks whether Americans have significantly experienced specific emotions, including stress and worry, in their daily lives.

The percentage of people who reported experiencing stress and worry "a lot of the day yesterday" showed unprecedented increases in the first half of March 2020, with stress rising 14 points to 60% and worry rising 20 points to 58%. Reports of experiencing these emotions have subsequently diminished. Daily stress -- which had ticked back up to 54% of the population in November, has since plummeted to 45% and now (as it did in January) matches prepandemic rates for the first time since the initial spike. Daily worry, in turn, was reported by 43% of respondents in February, which is now nearly back to 2019 levels.

Line graph. The percentages of Americans reporting that they felt worry or stress a lot of the day yesterday. In February of this year, 45% of Americans said they felt stress a lot of yesterday, while 43% said they felt a lot of worry.

Implications

As the U.S. crosses the one-year mark of its first confirmed death attributable to COVID-19, the wellbeing of its residents is closing out a tumultuous 12-month stretch. By April, the rise of the pandemic and subsequent economic shutdown resulted in a drop in the percentage of thriving Americans to a 12-year low -- a decrease that was even steeper than the one measured more than a decade ago (nearly 10 points last year, compared with about six points in 2008). Marked improvements currently underway in the thriving percentage and in current life satisfaction likely reflect the steady decline in new cases, hospitalizations and deaths over the past several weeks.

The extraordinary spikes in stress and worry far exceeded the increases gauged during the Great Recession. Those modest increases in 2008 took about two years to fully ease as the economy slowly improved. In contrast, the current recovery of stress and worry to pre-pandemic levels appears to be on track to occur in about half of that time. The killing of George Floyd, in turn, which catalyzed nationwide protests during the early months of the pandemic in May and June, also preceded a sharp increase in anger and sadness, underscoring how differing life events can trigger changes in distinct emotional experiences.

The end of 2020 was also characterized by the U.S. presidential election in which Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump. It is possible that the uptick in stress and worry in November was partially influenced by the disagreements of some over the outcome, in addition to the worsening pandemic situation. The improvement in the key wellbeing metrics thus far in 2021 could, therefore, also partially reflect the practical resolution of the political disputes and Biden's inauguration, as the percentage of adults categorized as thriving also increased early in the first terms under Barack Obama and Trump.

(Gallup USA)

MARCH 11, 2021

Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/335621/life-ratings-climb-month-high.aspx

681-43-14/Poll

Nearly Six-In-Ten (57%) Say It Will Be A Year Or More Before Things Mostly Operate As They Did Before The Pandemic Struck The U.S

A year after COVID-19 forced the first lockdowns, school and business closures and event cancellations across the country, most Americans are not optimistic about a quick return to the way things were before the outbreak. And the public is even less optimistic about when the job situation may return to its pre-pandemic level.

Despite recent increases in the shares of Americans who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 – and who say they plan to get vaccinated – just 9% of the public says it will be less than six months before most businesses, schools, places of worship and other public activities operate about as they did before the outbreak. Roughly a third (34%) say this will take between six months and a year.

For the most part, expectations about when life will return to the way it was before the pandemic do not vary widely across demographic groups or by partisanship.

Women (59%) are somewhat more likely than men (53%) to believe that it will take more than a year for public activities to return to the level they were before the outbreak.

Nearly two-thirds of Black Americans (64%) say it will be a year or longer, compared with smaller shares of White (56%), Asian (56%) and Hispanic adults (51%).

Upper-income Americans are the most optimistic about when life when will return to normal: 49% predict that schools, businesses and other public activities will fully reopen in a year or sooner. Fewer middle-income (43%) and lower-income Americans (40%) say the same.

Similar shares of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (57%) and Democrats and Democratic leaners (56%) say it will take more than a year for life to return to normal in the country. But Republicans are more likely than Democrats to believe it will be more than two years (17% vs. 10%).

When it comes to the nation’s job situation, Americans are even more pessimistic. About eight-in-ten Americans say they expect it will take one to two years (46%) or more than two years (35%) for the job situation to recover to where it was before the outbreak. Just 19% believe it will recover in less than a year.

There are modest demographic differences in these predictions. For example, those who live in rural areas (40%) are slightly more likely than those who live in suburban (34%) or urban areas (31%) to say the job recovery will take more than two years.

While partisans are largely in agreement that it will take more than a year for employment to reach the level it was at before the pandemic, Republicans are more pessimistic: 44% expect jobs to return in more than two years, compared with about a quarter of Democrats (26%).

(PEW)

MARCH 11, 2021

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/03/11/a-majority-of-americans-expect-it-will-be-at-least-a-year-before-life-returns-to-the-way-it-was-before-covid-19/

681-43-15/Poll

In 11 States Of U.S Federal Minimum Wage Applies And In Five States With Higher Minimums

Prospects for raising the federal minimum wage, which has stood at $7.25 an hour since 2009, appear to have stalled out yet again, despite broad public support for the idea. In truth, though, for the past several years most of the real action on minimum wages has been in states, counties and cities, not on Capitol Hill. Just this past November, for example, Florida voters approved Amendment 2, which will gradually raise the state’s minimum until it reaches $15 in 2026.

As a practical matter, the $7.25 federal minimum wage is actually used in just 21 states, which collectively account for about 40% of all U.S. wage and salary workers – roughly 56.5 million people – according to our analysis of state minimum-wage laws and federal employment data. In the 29 other states and the District of Columbia, minimum wages are higher – ranging from $8.65 in Florida to $15 in D.C.

In eight of the states with higher-than-federal minimum wages, some cities and counties have adopted local ordinances that provide for even higher rates than their state’s minimum, accelerate schedules for future increases, or both. (None of the states where the $7.25 federal minimum prevails have higher local minimums.) Our research found at least 46 such cities and counties – most of them (36) in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas of California. The highest local minimum wage in the country, $16.84, is in Emeryville, a suburb of San Francisco.

A few other cities, such as San Diego and Albuquerque, New Mexico, also have local minimum wage laws, but they’ve been overtaken by increases in state rates. Tacoma, Washington, repealed its local minimum-wage ordinance in 2019 for that reason.

Two states, Oregon and New York, don’t permit localities to adopt their own minimums but have regional variations built into their statewide laws to account for wide cost-of-living differentials within those states. In Oregon, which has a three-tiered wage scale, the “standard” hourly minimum of $12 applies, by our estimate, to only about 38% of the state’s 1.8 million wage and salary workers. The minimum wage is $13.25 for workers in the Portland metro area, the state’s largest (with about half of all wage and salary workers) and most expensive. And in 18 “nonurban” counties, which combined have about 11% of Oregon’s payroll workers, the minimum is $11.50. Scheduled future increases in the three zones (metro Portland, standard counties and nonurban counties) also vary based on the relative cost of living.

Similarly, New York state has one minimum wage for New York City ($15), one for the city’s suburban counties ($14, rising to $15 on Dec. 31), and one for the rest of the state ($12.50, adjusting annually for inflation until it too reaches $15).

The $7.25 federal minimum wage is pretty much one-size-fits-all across industries and occupations (or most: tipped employees, students, farmworkers and young trainees can be paid less under certain circumstances). But states, cities and counties can, and often do, provide for a range of minimums for different types of employers.

Nevada, for instance, sets a minimum wage of $8 an hour for employers that offer their workers health benefits but mandates $9 for employers that don’t. Seattle’s minimum wage is now $16.69 for most employers, but small employers (those with 500 or fewer employees worldwide) can pay $15 if an employee’s tips or company-provided medical benefits equal at least $1.69 an hour.

Most states with higher-than-federal minimums also have acted to automate the process of adjusting the minimum wage, rather than leaving it to year-by-year legislative whim. In 10 states (plus D.C.), the minimum wage rises annually based on some sort of inflation or cost-of-living index, with the intent of preserving its current purchasing power. Thirteen other states are in the process of raising their minimums on a multiyear schedule – seven will begin automatic indexing at some point in the future, while in the other six the increases will stop upon reaching a set level. All but one of the 46 cities and counties we identified with their own minimum wages also have adopted automatic cost-of-living increases, either in effect now or beginning at some point in the future.

On the other hand, all but one of the 21 states where the federal minimum wage applies also bar their cities and counties from adopting any higher local minimums (Wyoming being the lone exception). Eighteen of those states have specifically preempted local minimum wage laws through state statutes; in two others, New Hampshire and Virginia, the practice is that local governments can only do those things that state law allows them to do, which so far has not included enacting local minimum wages.

Many of the local preemption statutes are relatively recent. Sixteen of the 25 states with such laws adopted them within the past decade – 11 states where the federal minimum wage applies and five states with higher minimums.

(PEW)

MARCH 12, 2021

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/03/12/when-it-comes-to-raising-the-minimum-wage-most-of-the-action-is-in-cities-and-states-not-congress/

681-43-16/Poll

Only One In Four Canadians (28%) Expect Life To Return To Normal This Year; 29% Say Not Until 2023 Or Beyond

Toronto, ON, March 10, 2021 – As the COVID-19 vaccination drive moves slowly on, and the prospect of a third wave fuelled by variants looms on the horizon, most Canadians aren’t under any illusions of being able to regain some semblance of “normal life” any time soon. New Ipsos polling for Global News reveals that only one in four (28%) expect things to start to feel like they’ve returned to normal by this winter, including just 4% who think a return to normal will start this summer, 8% who expect it in the fall, and 16% who think they will need to wait until winter 2021-2022.

Others expect the uncertainty of the pandemic to last for significantly longer, including 38% who predict a return to normality in 2022 (15% say the spring, 13% the summer, and 10% the fall). Nearly two in ten (17%) think it won’t happen until 2023, 5% say not until 2024, and 7% say not until 2025 or later. Nearly one in ten Canadians (7%) are even more pessimistic, saying things will never return to normal. This feeling is strongest in Atlantic Canada (15%) and Alberta (15%).

Pessimism on the rise

Though the vaccination effort may be taking longer than first anticipated, Canadians are already looking to the future. Overall, there is more optimism (61%) than pessimism (39%) that the current pandemic will adequately prepare us for the next one.

However, while six in ten (60%) express optimism that their family will be in a better position that it was prior to COVID-19, this is down 13 points compared to December 2020, when nearly three in four Canadians (73%) said they were optimistic about their family’s future.

Roughly six in ten are at least somewhat optimistic that those who have lost jobs due to the pandemic will be able to find similar employment when the economy recovers (58%), and that life will fully return to normal at some point (57%). Canadians aged 18-34 are the most optimistic about being able to get similar jobs once the economy bounces back (67% are optimistic, compared to 58% of those 55+ and 52% of those 35-54).

At the same time, there are clear doubts about the country’s ability to emerge from the pandemic unscathed. Canadians are split on whether Canada will come back stronger than it was prior to COVID-19, with 50% saying they’re optimistic and 50% taking a more pessimistic view. What’s more, pessimism about Canada coming back stronger has increased 6 points since December 2020, when 44% felt pessimistic.

When it comes to the economy, fewer than half (45%) express optimism that the government will be able to get its finances back in order, once the pandemic is over. Canadians aged 18-34 are more likely to be optimistic about government finances (52%) than those aged 35-54 (41%) or 55 and over (43%). The survey also examines results by voter intent, and finds that Liberal Party supporters are more likely to be optimistic about the government getting its finances back in order, post-pandemic – 63% express optimism in this regard, compared to 52% of NDP supporters, 48% of Green Party voters, 32% of Bloc Québécois supporters, and just 28% of Conservative Party supporters.

Looking forward to socializing again

What are Canadians most looking forward to when normal life does eventually resume? The survey asked respondents to consider a list of 17 things, and to choose up to three that they are most looking forward to. Ditching the facemasks and connecting with people in person again top the list.

One in three say they are most looking forward to being able to socialize with friends and have mix-household gatherings (35%) and being able to gather indoors with family (31%). Nearly one in four (23%) are looking forward to simply being able to hug, kiss, and generally resume physical contact (23%). Being able to date or meet new people is cited by 4%.

A year into the pandemic, people are ready to put the stresses of COVID-19 behind them. One in three (36%) say what they’re looking forward to the most is not needing to wear a mask, and 18% say they’re looking forward to seeing people’s faces without masks again.

Much has been written about the pandemic’s impact on mental health: two in ten (20%) say they’re looking forward to experiencing less stress and anxiety caused by COVID and its implications. Many are concerned about public healthcare and the people who keep it going, with nearly two in ten (17%) looking forward to reduced strain on the system and frontline healthcare workers.

Next in line is restarting the social activities that many Canadians have had to give up for the past year. One in four say what they’re most looking forward to is dining in a restaurant without restrictions (26%) or being able to travel internationally (26%). Others are eagerly awaiting the return of festivals, concerts and events (14%), or attending live sporting events (6%).

On a day-to-day basis, Canadians are most likely to be looking forward to the return of organized leagues, hobbies, activities, clubs, gyms, community centres, or libraries (10%), being able to shop in person without curbside pick-up or capacity restrictions (7%), and going back into the office or place of work on a regular basis (3%). More than one in ten parents (12%), or 5% of Canadians overall, say that getting the kids back in school without restrictions is the aspect of post-pandemic life they’re looking forward to the most.

What are you most looking forward to once things return closer to normal?

Please choose up to your top 3.

Not wearing a mask

36%

Being able to socialize with friends and have mixed-household gatherings

35%

Being able to gather indoors with my family

31%

Dining in a restaurant without restrictions

26%

Travelling internationally

26%

Being able to physically touch others (i.e. hug, kiss, etc.)

23%

Less stress and anxiety caused by COVID and its implications

20%

Seeing people’s faces again (without a mask)

18%

Reduced strain on the healthcare system and frontline workers

17%

Attending festivals, concerts and events

14%

The return of organized leagues, hobbies, activities, clubs, gyms, community centres, libraries, etc.

10%

Being able to shop in person without curbside pick-up, capacity restrictions, etc.

Attending live sporting events

Getting kids back in school without restrictions

Being able to date, meet new people, etc.

Going back into the office or place of work on a regular basis

Some other thing

Some interesting differences emerge by gender and age, suggesting that not all Canadians are looking forward to the same thing. For example:

Those aged 55 and over are the most likely to be looking forward to being able to physically touch others (31%, vs. 20% of those 35-54 and 17% of those 18-34)
Those 55+ are also more likely to want to gather indoors with family (39%, v. 16% of 18-34s);
Those aged 18-34 are most likely to look forward to being able to date and meet new people (9%, vs. 3% of those 35-54 and 1% of those 55+)
Younger Canadians are more eager to be rid of COVID stress and anxiety (27% 18-34, 21% 35-54, 13% 55+)
Women are more likely than men to be looking forward to socializing with friends (41% vs. 28%) and travelling internationally (31% vs. 22%)

(Ipsos Canada)

10 March 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/only-one-in-four-canadians-expect-life-to-return-to-normal-this-year

681-43-17/Poll

Majority (58%) say Teachers Deserve Higher Pay During COVID-19

Toronto, ON, March 12, 2021 – Given the challenges that come with teaching children during a pandemic, including online learning, six in ten (58%) Canadians agree (19% strongly/39% somewhat) that teachers deserve higher pay for their work during COVID-19. Conversely, 42% disagree (13% strongly/28% somewhat) with this idea.

This would be a political issue however: 80% of NDP voters support such an initiative, as does a majority (68%) of Liberal voters. However, only 42% of Conservative voters would support such a pay hike for teachers. But with recent polling indicating that Canadians are largely unwilling to bear an increased tax burden, it’s difficult to know where this money would come from.

Looking at a demographic breakdown, two thirds of women (65%) are in support of a pay hike for teachers, while only half (51%) of men are in favour. Three quarters (76%) of 18-34 year olds are more in favour of such an initiative, whereas adults aged 35-54 (53%) and 55+ (50%) are less supportive.

All things considered, a majority (54%) agree (7% strongly/47% somewhat) that the running of schools during COVID-19 has been good, while nearly half (46%) disagree (13% strongly/33% somewhat). Parents are more positive in their assessment, with 64% agreeing that the running of schools during COVID has been good, while 36% disagree. Women (57%) agree more with this statement than men (51%).

Over a majority in the Atlantic (61%) and the Prairies (61%) agree that the running of schools during COVID-19 has been good, followed by British Columbia (59%), Alberta (58%). Ontario (52%), and Quebec (48%) are trailing in this sentiment.

(Ipsos Canada)

12 March 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/majority-say-teachers-deserve-higher-pay-during-covid-19

AUSTRALIA

681-43-18/Poll

Movement In Melbourne CBD Plunged 89% During February Lockdown Compared To Smaller Declines In Other Cities

There have been five localized lockdowns in Australian cities or states in the last few months caused by COVID-19 outbreaks starting with a state-wide lockdown of South Australia in late November up to the most recent state-wide lockdown in Victoria in mid-February.

A special analysis of movement data in Australia’s Capital City CBDs during the five localised lockdowns shows movement levels in the Melbourne CBD plunged the most – by 89% - when Victoria went into a snap state-wide five day lockdown from February 13-17, 2021 to get on top of the Holiday Inn outbreak.

These results show the recent Victorian state-wide lockdown was the severest of all five localised lockdowns followed by the state-wide lockdown in South Australia from November 19-21, 2020.

The South Australian lockdown was caused by a COVID-19 outbreak at a Woodville pizza bar and was cut short when further information was discovered about the chains of transmission but nevertheless movement in the Adelaide CBD during the three-day state-wide lockdown plunged by 83%.

In comparison to the state-wide lockdowns in Victoria and South Australia there have also been three more localised lockdowns during the last few months. There were two city-wide lockdowns of Greater Brisbane (January 9-11, 2021) and Greater Perth (February 1-5, 2021) and a localised lockdown of the Northern Beaches council area in Sydney’s north which went for three weeks over the Christmas/New Year period and dealt with easily the largest outbreak (December 20, 2020 – January 9, 2021).

% decline in movement in Australian Capital City CBDs during five recent lockdowns

% movement decline is compared to the daily averages in January - February 2020

Source: Roy Morgan collaboration with UberMedia who provide anonymous aggregated insights using mobile location data. Note: Movement data for the Capital City CBDs excludes the residents of the respective CBDs.

Although the Northern Beaches lockdown only directly affected 270,000 people, the reduction in movement in the Sydney CBD was still substantial with movement down 70% on average movement earlier in 2020.

There are a few factors at play with workers from other locations in Sydney reluctant to commute to a high density area such as the Sydney CBD. Even during the Northern Beaches lockdown people in that area were allowed to commute to work – anywhere in Sydney – if they were unable to do their work from home.

Another factor is that the Christmas/New Year period is a time of year when many people are already on holidays and not commuting to the office anyway. Nevertheless, the results show that even localised lockdowns within a larger suburban area do cause large impacts as people in other areas modify their own behaviour in response to the perception of an increased risk.

Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan, says comparing the movement data in Australia’s Capital City CBDs during five recent lockdowns shows the huge impact they cause:

“Since Victoria (and Melbourne) emerged from its second wave of the virus in late October 2020, after nearly four months of hard lockdown, there have been several outbreaks of COVID-19 around Australia – including in all five mainland capital cities.

“The cities have handled the outbreaks differently with State-wide lockdowns in South Australia/ Adelaide (November 2020) and Victoria/Melbourne (February), city-wide lockdowns in Brisbane (January) and Perth (February) and a localised three-week lockdown in the Northern Beaches of Sydney (December 2020/January 2021).

“The third Victorian lockdown, which ran for five days from February 13-17, 2021, caused the biggest drop in the movement of people of all of these short-term lockdowns. Movement in the Melbourne CBD plunged 89% on the average level during January/February 2020 during the five-day lockdown.

“The strong adherence to the restrictions in Melbourne should probably come as no surprise as Victorians have been the most practiced at working from home and constraining their movement over the last year. However, the results do show how devastating these lockdowns are for businesses trading in the Melbourne CBD who rely on foot traffic and people working in the office.

“The second largest decline was for movement in the Adelaide CBD during South Australia’s brief lockdown in late November with the metric down 83% on the average level of early 2020. The fact the COVID-19 outbreak in Adelaide came only a few weeks after Victoria and Melbourne finally emerged from its long lockdown may explain why South Australians adhered so well to the threat of a renewed outbreak in their State.

“The three lockdowns in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney’s Northern Beaches caused movement in the respective Capital City CBDs to plunge between 70%-74% compared to pre-COVID-19 averages.

“The most interesting aspect here is that while the Brisbane and Perth lockdowns were of the entire metropolitan area the Sydney lockdown was of only one local council area for the 275,000 people living in the Northern Beaches.

“Movement in all three Capital City CBDs plunged by a similar amount but the real differences emerge when looking at other areas around Sydney not in either the Northern Beaches or CBD. Movement in suburban locations around Sydney such as in Lidcombe, Bondi and Leichhardt declined by far less than it did in the Sydney CBD during the Northern Beaches lockdown.”

(Roy Morgan)

March 16 2021

Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8656-roy-morgan-ubermedia-covid-19-movement-capital-cities-march-2021-202103090648

681-43-19/Poll

3 Million New Zealanders Read Newspapers And Nearly 1.8 Million Read Magazines In 2020

Roy Morgan readership results for New Zealand’s print newspapers and magazines for the 12 months to December 2020.

These are the latest findings from the Roy Morgan New Zealand Single Source survey of 6,496 New Zealanders aged 14+ over the 12 months to December 2020.

Cross-platform audience grows for New Zealand Herald to nearly 1.9 million people

The standout performer during the COVID-19 hit 2020 was New Zealand’s most widely read publication the New Zealand Herald. The Herald had a total cross-platform audience of 1,883,000 in the 12 months to December 2020, an increase of 72,000 on a year ago.

The Herald is read by more than four times as many New Zealanders as any other publication as readers flocked to the biggest name in newspapers to keep up to date with changing rules and regulations and the latest news on the COVID-19 crisis in New Zealand and around the world.

Stuff.co.nz retains the leading position as New Zealand’s leading news portal for those on the lookout for the latest news on COVID-19 and what is going on in the country bringing together leading newspapers the Dominion Post, The Press and Sunday Star-Times, and magazines such as the TV Guide and NZ Gardener. The total digital audience for Stuff in an average 7 days is over 1.7 million New Zealanders ahead of main rival NZHerald.co.nz on 1.64 million.

Other titles had a more challenging year although the Otago Daily Times grew its digital audience by 14,000 (+7.5%) to 200,000 and now attracts a total cross-platform audience of 254,000 making it the fourth most widely read publication in New Zealand.

Wellington's Dominion Post is in a clear second place with a readership of 416,000, followed by The Press in third place with 288,000 readers.

Filling out the top ten are the Sunday Star-Times in fifth place with 220,000 readers ahead of the Waikato Times on 193,000, Hawke’s Bay Today on 154,000, Bay of Plenty Times on 145,000, the Northern Advocate on 107,000 and the Taranaki Daily News on 106,000.

Despite the challenges of 2020 Stuff’s newspapers have recovered strongly in the second half of the year with six out of ten titles growing their print readership in the December quarter 2020 and eight of ten increasing their print readership over the second half of the year since the June quarter 2020.

The Stuff newspapers which grew their print readership included the Dominion Post in Wellington, Sunday Star-Times, Taranaki Daily News, Nelson Mail, Southland Times, Sunday News, Manawatu Standard and the Timaru Herald.

Cuisine and Australian Women’s Weekly increase their readership during COVID-19 hit 2020

New Zealand’s most widely read magazine is easily the driving magazine AA Directions which had an average issue readership of 365,000 during 2020 and is almost double the second placed New Zealand Listener on a readership of 185,000.

Two of the leading magazines to increase their readership in 2020 despite the significant disruptions caused by COVID-19 were Cuisine, with a readership of 118,000, up 19,000 on a year ago and the Australian Women’s Weekly (NZ Edition) which increased its readership by 3,000 to 180,000.

Other magazines to benefit in 2020 were those with a focus on home improvement and interior decorating as well as cooking and recipes. Just outside the top ten most read magazines were the home improvement magazine Habitat, which increased its readership by 26,000 to 90,000, and also increasing was the cooking and recipe focused Dish, with readership up by 22,000 to 89,000.

Other widely read magazines included TV Guide with a readership of 166,000, NZ Woman’s Day on 152,000, NZ Woman’s Weekly on 105,000, NZ Gardener on 101,000, North & South on 100,000 and in tenth place NZ House & Garden on 92,000.

Several Are Media magazines including New Zealand Listener, Australian Women’s Weekly (NZ Edition), NZ Woman’s Day and NZ Woman’s Weekly were temporarily suspended from publication in the June and September 2020 quarters due to the New Zealand lockdown. The figures for these magazines do not show readership for the latest quarter – average readership is allocated instead.

North & South and Dish lead cross-platform* audience growth – both up over 12% on a year ago

Of the leading magazines it was North & South which increased its total cross-platform audience by 21,000, or 14.6%, to 165,000 and Dish, which grew its cross-platform audience by 16,000 (+12.4%) to 145,000 which had the most impressive performance in the 12 months to December 2020.

Also growing its cross-platform audience was Australian Women’s Weekly (NZ Edition) with an increase of 7,000 (+3.3%) to 218,000 making it the second most widely read magazine in New Zealand.

However, motoring magazine AA Directions is still easily New Zealand’s most widely read magazine with a market-leading total cross-platform audience of 441,000 – more than twice as many as any other magazine.

Other leading magazines with strong cross-platform audiences include New Zealand Listener on 209,000, NZ Woman’s Day on 207,000, TV Guide on 194,000, NZ Woman’s weekly on 172,000, NZ Gardener on 145,000 and Mindfood on 138,000.

Canvas and Weekend are the most widely read newspaper inserted magazines

The Weekend New Zealand Herald newspaper inserted magazine Canvas (North Island) with an average issue readership of 231,000 again leads the field as the most widely read ahead of Weekend (North Island) now read by 175,000.

Behind the two market leaders are Sunday on 164,000, Viva (North Island) on 147,000 and both Bite (North Island) and Your Weekend on 130,000.

Michele Levine, Chief Executive Officer, Roy Morgan, says:

“The latest Roy Morgan readership figures for New Zealand covering the year to December 2020 includes the nearly three-month long lockdown period the country experienced starting in mid-March which ended on Monday June 8.

“During this period New Zealanders were largely confined to their homes with one of the world’s strictest lockdowns closing most retail stores except for those selling food and other essentials and the publication of several leading magazines was temporarily suspended for up to eight months.

“Nevertheless, 3 million New Zealanders (73.9% of the population aged 14+) now read or access newspapers in an average 7-day period via print or online (website or app). During 2020 the standout performer was clearly the New Zealand Herald which grew its cross-platform audience by 4% to 1.88 million and is now read by nearly 47% of New Zealanders aged 14+.

“Other newspapers to grow their cross-platform audiences in 2020 despite the lockdowns and disruptions caused by COVID-19 were the Wanganui Chronicle, up 3.9% to 79,000 and Ashburton Guardian, up 5.4% to 39,000.

“The Stuff group of newspapers brings together ten of the country’s leading newspapers such as the Dominion Post, The Press and the Sunday Star-Times through their news portal Stuff.co.nz. Eight out of Stuff’s ten newspapers grew their print readership in the December quarter 2020 compared to the mid-year June quarter 2020 and the platform’s overall digital audience of 1.72 million New Zealanders reaches 42.4% of the population in an average 7 days.

“New Zealand’s magazines obviously faced the similar headwinds to newspapers during the middle parts of 2020 with regular retail sales channels of print versions heavily restricted. Several magazines even suspended their publishing during this period from April to as late as November 2020.

“The closure of print channels notwithstanding, nearly 1.8 million New Zealanders (43.9% of the population aged 14+) read magazines whether in print or online either via the web or an app.

“Leading magazines to grow their digital audiences despite the challenges thrown up by the pandemic included Australian Women’s Weekly (NZ Edition), Dish, Habitat and North & South.”

(Roy Morgan)

March 16 2021

Source: https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8658-new-zealand-roy-morgan-readership-results-newspapers-and-magazines-december-2020-202103150516

MULTICOUNTRY STUDIES

681-43-20/Poll

More Than Half (52%) Of Citizens In The 28 Countries Surveyed, Think That Gender Equality Will Revert To What It Was Before The Pandemic

A new global study carried out in 28 countries by Ipsos, in collaboration with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London for International Women’s Day (8 March 2021) shows that:

People believe the gender pay gap is real and important, but are divided over whether it should be a top priority right now;
More flexible working practices and support for women and girls facing violence and abuse are key to ensuring the recovery from Covid-19 addresses issues facing women.

This is the first press release highlighting results from South Africa and some other countries and focuses on GBV (Gender-Based Violence), the fear of losing a job and equality issues. During the rest of the week, more information will be published:

Gender and work;
Gender pay gap perceptions;
The impact of Covid-19 and recovery from Covid-19;
What is important in a leader.

GBV a very important issue in SA

Online respondents in 28 countries were asked to list the four or five most important issues facing women that will be necessary to be addressed after the Covid-19 pandemic. After months of working from home, four out of every ten men and women in the surveyed countries agree that “flexible working practices and continued work from home” will be the most important issue deserving attention. This issue is more important for women than for men.

Also, more important for women than for men is the need for more support for women and girls who face violence or abuse. Although this is an issue getting attention in many countries, respondents in Turkey (56%), South Africa (52%) and Peru (51%) are much more likely than others to prioritize support for women and girls who face violence or abuse than the global country average. In contrast, this is seen as less of a priority in Russia (24%), the Netherlands (23%) and Italy (21%).

Although this is an issue getting attention in many countries, respondents in Turkey (56%), South Africa (52%) and Peru (51%) are much more likely than others to prioritise support for women and girls who face violence or abuse than the global country average

For online South Africans it is the top priority to address the matter of Gender-Based Violence to ensure that issues facing women are considered when plans are made for the recovery from the pandemic. Other issues were also mentioned by substantial proportions of South Africans and it is no surprise that the pervasive and growing unemployment in the country is also seen as an important issue to address – both men and women concur.

Fear of losing a job

In spite of all the job losses in 2020, it seems as if we have not yet seen the end of the carnage and more than six in every ten online South Africans still say that they are now (in 2021) more likely to lose their job as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. South Africa has the highest proportion (63%) of people worrying about the sustainability of their jobs among the surveyed countries, followed by other developing nations such as Mexico, Peru and Chile. However, job security is a worldwide worry and only in Sweden, the Netherlands and Israel do less than 30% worry about the permanence of their current jobs.

In South Africa, women are more worried about keeping their jobs – 69% against 58% of men – possibly due to the much-discussed issue that disproportionately more women than men lost their jobs in 2020, as a result of the effect of the pandemic on economic certainty and the stability and / or growth of businesses.

Equality is still elusive

More than half (52%) of citizens in the 28 countries surveyed, think that gender equality will revert to what it was before the pandemic. Almost a fifth in Turkey, Germany, Poland and Spain think that men and women will become less equal. In South Africa 9% expect less equality, and 14% more equality, but like the rest of the world, 55% think that things will remain just the same as before. In Saudi Arabia big changes are expected and almost four in every ten (38%) say that a new era of more gender equality is on the way.

In South Africa 9% expect less equality, and 14% more equality, but like the rest of the world, 55% think that things will remain just the same as before

(Ipsos South Africa)

8 March 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-za/international-womens-day-2021

681-43-21/Poll

A Majority (54%) Say Concerns About The Gender Pay Gap Are A Response To A Real Problem

But the 28-country study, by Ipsos MORI and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, found Britons are, on the whole, most likely to be sympathetic to the need to address the gender pay gap – although notable minorities are not:

A majority (54%) say concerns about the gender pay gap are a response to a real problem, but nearly one in five (18%) think they’re an example of political correctness going too far. By 48% to 61%, men are less likely than women to see such concerns as a response to a genuine problem.
One in 10 Britons (10%) say they think reports about the gender pay gap in the media are fake news – compared with 44% who think such reports are telling the truth. One in seven (15%) men believe such reports are fake news, more than double the proportion of women who say the same (6%).
The majority support greater transparency over pay, with 54% saying that people should have the right to know what other colleagues doing the same work are paid – more than double the 23% who disagree. 50% of men and 59% of women support this proposal.

The findings come as UK firms have effectively been given six extra months to report their gender pay gaps because of the pandemic, despite the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee recommending that the usual reporting deadline of 4 April be maintained.

How the COVID recovery can support women

Across the 28 countries surveyed, 40% of people say more flexible working practices, such as working from home or part-time, are one of the most important things to help ensure the recovery from COVID addresses issues facing women – the top answer given by both men and women.

More support for women and girls who face violence and abuse (36%) and better access to healthcare services (33%) are seen as the next most important globally.

Having more women making decisions in business and government is viewed as comparatively less crucial, with 21% citing this as a key way to support women post-pandemic.

In Britain, flexible working (46%), better mental health support services (36%) and better social care for the elderly or vulnerable (31%) are seen as most important.

Julia Gillard, former prime minister of Australia and Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, said:

It's been said that were at a coronavirus crossroads: we face a choice between building back better or allowing progress on gender equality to stall or even be reversed. As the world decides which path to take, the good news is that the vast majority of people recognise that closing the gender pay gap is important. The bad news is that in many countries, people are less clear it should be a top priority right now, as we begin to reopen and rebuild society. But if we’re to have any chance of ensuring women don’t lose out further because of the crisis, we need to keep this issue high on the agenda.

Kelly Beaver, managing director of Ipsos MORI Public Affairs, said:

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women has been much talked about, and it’s clear that gender inequality remains an issue which concerns both men and women across the world. But what these findings show is that for many people, beating the pandemic is their first priority before wanting to turn to inequality issues like the gender pay gap. As we do start to beat this pandemic, however, we need to ensure that societies around the world begin to refocus on important issues like gender inequality and that women are not overlooked in the recovery.

(Ipsos MORI)

8 March 2021

Source: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/international-womens-day-2021

681-43-22/Poll

The Country With The Most Favorable Results For Astrazeneca Is Great Britain, Where Only 3% Say They Do Not Want To Undergo The Oxford Vaccine

The new international report from YouGov analyzes the degree of trust that people from different countries place in each of the vaccines currently available against COVID-19.

The Italian Ministry of Health authorized the use of AstraZeneca for the vaccination of over 65s, joining other European countries such as France and Germany which initially limited its use for this age group, but rectified later new scientific evidence. Other countries such as Spain, on the other hand, have not yet approved the use of the vaccine in this age group.

To learn the opinion of the global population regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine, YouGov carried out a study to find out the degree of confidence in the British vaccine and compare the results with those obtained from other vaccines against COVID-19.

Italy has less skepticism than other European countries towards the AstraZeneca vaccine

The opinion of the Italians falls within the European average. In Germany, 43% of the population think the AZ vaccine is safe, while in France this percentage drops to 33% and in Great Britain, where AstraZeneca plays at home, it stands at 63%.

Outside Europe, in the United States, 42% of the population believe the British vaccine is safe, while 18% do not believe it is reliable.

Moderna, AstraZeneca or Pfizer: which would Europeans like to get vaccinated with?

As a result of concerns about the safety and efficacy of AstraZeneca for certain age groups, Europeans on average are more likely to want to immunize with Moderna or Pfizer than with the British vaccine.

In Italy, 23% of the population would reject the AZ vaccine and would prefer to wait for another one, while only 8% and 12%, respectively, would hold this line for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. A similar situation is observed in France, where 27% would prefer to wait for another vaccine rather than receive AstraZeneca, compared to 5% and 12%, respectively, who would reject Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Unsurprisingly, the country with the most favorable results for AstraZeneca is Great Britain, where only 3% say they do not want to undergo the Oxford vaccine. The opposite extreme is Germany, where the German population would be most likely to reject AZ (27%).

(YouGov Italy)

March 10, 2021

Source: https://it.yougov.com/news/2021/03/10/Limmagine-del-vaccino-AstraZeneca-in-Europa/

681-43-23/Poll

In 15 Of The 17 Countries Covered By The Study, A Majority Say They Intend To Spend Less: 61% Of Americans, 68% Of French People, 83% Of Italians And 86% Of Spaniards

In fact, in 15 of the 17 countries covered by the study, a majority say they intend to: 61% of Americans, 68% of French people, 83% of Italians and 86% of Spaniards.

But will the intention to cut spending be reflected in post-pandemic reality - or on the contrary, will we see increased spending in areas where activity was limited?

To find out, we conducted a survey in the United States just days after the launch of our white paper .

More Americans plan to increase their spending on going to bars and restaurants once the crisis is over.

In the United States, data from YouGov Direct shows that American consumers plan to increase their spending (from pre-pandemic levels) in certain areas once the pandemic has passed.

Three in ten people say they intend to increase their budget for bars and restaurants (31%), compared to only 14% who say they want to spend less. Finally, nearly half of Americans (49%) plan to return to a level of spending equivalent to the pre-pandemic level.

The same goes for appointments related to personal care (hairdresser, barber, manicurist, etc.): a majority intend to keep the same budget (62%), 23% expect to spend more, while Only 11% intend to spend less.

At the same time, Americans are slightly more likely to plan to increase their spending in cinemas (23%) than to decrease them (21%). One in two people does not intend to change their budget.

Finally, nearly one-fifth of Americans plan to spend more on clothing, shoes, and beauty products (18%) - compared with 12% who plan to spend less and two-thirds (66%) who do not plan to spend less. change their budget one way or the other.

While the United States does not necessarily reflect all other markets, these results suggest that consumers overwhelmingly plan to return to their pre-pandemic spending level, or even increase it in certain sectors. Those who plan to reduce spending on social activities, personal care or going to the movies representing a minority.

(YouGov France)

March 12, 2021

Source: https://fr.yougov.com/news/2021/03/12/impact-covid-19-sur-les-depenses-des-consommateurs/