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Canadian Employees Still Trying to Adapt to Remote Work : After One Year of the Pandemic

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Canadian Employees Still Trying to Adapt to Remote Work : After One Year of the Pandemic

TORONTO, ON – March 15, 2021: New research from Citrix revealed that 75% of Canadian workers would like to be given the option of working at home or at the office once the pandemic ends. But if remote work is here to stay, then companies must ensure they are creating a corporate culture that promotes physical and mental wellbeing and offer greater flexibility in the way their employees work.
According to the study, a majority of Canadian employees want to continue some form of remote work upon return to the office, but working from home has taken a toll on them. Forty-nine per cent (49%) of Canadian office workers declared that their physical wellbeing was worse or much worse since the onset of the pandemic, and 57% said the same regarding their mental wellbeing.
“A year ago, Canadian employees were forced to work from home, but antiquated work cultures and technology went along with them and created situations that have led to significant employee burnout,” said Ed Rodriguez, General Manager of Citrix Canada. “Looking forward to a return to the office, and with 75% of workers still wanting the flexibility to work remotely, companies will need to readapt their work models to create an environment that promotes the well-being of the employee, and provides them with the flexibility and right technology to succeed.”
Company Culture Matters
As a result of the negative impact the past year has taken on employees, Canadian office workers are seeing great value in working for a company whose culture promotes the upkeep of physical and mental wellbeing; as almost all of those surveyed (97%) declared that a company that promotes wellbeing matters to them.
Company culture can be reinforced by many different departments or positions within a company (management, HR, IT), yet none seem to have risen to the levels of support that their workforces feel is required. Of those surveyed, only 23% felt very supported by their organization as a whole, with 32% feeling very supported by their management, 22% feeling very supported by their IT department, and 16% feeling very supported by their HR department.
When asked what factors play into establishing and maintaining a good company culture, 71% felt that leadership is the most important factor, followed by 43% that felt that flexible work environments and schedules can contribute positively to the culture of a company.
A Hybrid Return to the Office
Despite the difficulties they experienced working remotely, most employees still want to keep doing it. When asked what their feelings were towards continuing to work remotely, 58% of respondents said they would like a hybrid model where they can choose whether to work remotely or from the office each day, 17% have no interest in returning to an office; while only 16% stated they would like to return to working in an office each day.
Remote work has also now become a main factor when employees are looking for new employment or deciding to stay in their current role. Sixty-three per cent (63%) of employees agreed that they would only accept a new job if it offered flexible or remote work options, and most surprisingly, 38% would accept up to a 20% reduction in pay compared to what they are making now if the new role offered remote work models. Overwhelmingly, 73% of employees agreed that businesses will lose out on talent if they don’t offer flexible or remote work.
“Employees and companies alike have realized that remote work styles can be productive when approached in the right way,” said Rodriguez. “Gone are the days that work is measured by a physical body present at an office each day and working a 9am-5pm. Employees are looking for companies that put their well-being and experience first. They want the ability to choose where they work from and have the power to control their own schedules. Companies that fail to adapt to this new way of work will fall behind, while those that do, will see more engaged employees that are motivated to succeed.”