A national survey of employees and employers conducted by Staples Canada and the Angus Reid Group, has found that only 35 per cent of employers have communicated clear guidelines for remote and hybrid work beyond 2022.
The Future of Work Trend Report examines what employees and employers across different industries are thinking and feeling about the future, says Staples Canada CEO, David Boone. The report finds that employees report being much less likely to consider an employer if it didn’t offer flexible hours. Employees were also less likely to accept new roles with no option for hybrid work, and 50 per cent of remote and hybrid workers report being distracted and losing productivity going into the office – something Staples says employers are underestimating.
The report also suggests that home office setups are lacking, and many are making do without employer supports.
“Now that we’ve moved beyond the threshold of a temporary setup, companies and employees alike need to decide what an optimal and productive configuration will look like,” they add.
The sample of 1,010 employees and 505 employers in Canada found that most employees currently working remotely or in a hybrid arrangement, prefer their current arrangement, with almost none saying they would prefer to return to a primarily in-office model.
In-office workers least satisfied
They add that remote workers are by far the most satisfied while in-office workers are least satisfied. “Employers aren’t fully appreciating this – employers underestimate how satisfied their remote workers are and overestimate satisfaction at primarily in-office companies.”
The researchers add that access to newer modes of working, including hybrid work and flexible hours, are becoming crucial for many, impacting which companies employees will consider when looking for employment.
More, they add that “many companies are still lacking a clearly-defined plan for mode of working going forward – only one third of employers say their organization has communicated clear plans for remote and hybrid work to their employees for 2023 and beyond.”
The report also looks at expectations, modes of working, recruitment, and employer support for remote work, saying 70 per cent of employees say their employer has done a good or excellent job of providing what is needed to work effectively remotely. This number increases to 83 per cent of employers who say the same.
