'The benefits of hiring remote and hybrid workers are clear for employers'
Flexibility has been the most significant shift in the workplace since the COVID-19 pandemic—and Canadian employees are unwilling to give it up, according to a new report.
More than three in four (76%) workers say they are more satisfied in their careers now because they have the flexibility they want, compared to before the pandemic, according to Robert Half.
Additionally, 65% of professionals say they will only consider jobs that offer flexible work options, such as fully remote or hybrid positions.
“The benefits of hiring remote and hybrid workers are clear for employers,” says Katie Merritt, senior research and data manager, Robert Half.
In addition to accessing a wider talent pool and potentially attracting more skilled job applicants, offering flexible work can help boost retention. In another recent Robert Half survey, 76% of workers said having flexibility in when and where they work influences their desire to stay with an employer.
Most hybrid workers believe returning to a central office five days a week would negatively affect their wellbeing, according to a previous International Workplace Group (IWG) report.
The number of Canadians who are working from home most of the time seems to continue to drop, based on numbers previously published by Statistics Canada (StatCan).
Despite the popularity of remote work, there remains both a positive and negative sides to it, according to Robert Half’s survey of 835 Canadian professionals conducted in March.
Specifically, while 7 in 10 workers feel they are as or more productive in a remote work setting as they are in office, more than half (54%) say they now value in-office time and the ability to collaborate with colleagues in person more than they did before COVID.
Also, workplace culture has changed.
Over 2 in 5 (42%) workers feel companies are placing a higher priority on workplace culture and employee engagement now.
However, 37% of professionals say culture and engagement have suffered because of remote work, while 22% say they don’t have as strong relationships with colleagues as they used to.
“It’s clear that businesses need to work hard to regain lost ground,” says Robert Half.
A decline in employee performance among remote workers may not be due to their working arrangements, but because of managers' poor leadership skills, according to a previous report.
In a 2024 white paper, the World Economic Forum discussed the rise of global digital jobs and opportunities for working remotely. They predict that, by 2030, there will be around 92 million global digital jobs that can be done remotely anywhere. That’s a 25% rise from 73 million in 2024.
