If you are currently working from home and your employer suddenly told you to come back to the office, would you go?
That is the dilemma facing many Canadian workers right now – and there are a great deal of remote workers who just aren’t ready to return to the workplace. A new study from staffing firm Robert Half shows found that about one third of professionals (33 per cent) who are currently working from home due to the pandemic would look for a new job if they were asked to come into the office full time.
Compromise wanted
More than half of all the employees who were surveyed (51 per cent) said that they prefer a hybrid working arrangement, where they can divide time between the office and another location.
Survey participants also expressed the following hesitations about working from home full time:
– Relationships with co-workers could suffer: 39 per cent – Fewer career advancement opportunities due to a lack of visibility: 21 per cent – Decreased productivity while at home: 16 per cent
These drawbacks to remote working only serve to underscore the benefits of a flexible working arrangement. Having the ability to work from home some of the time while still spending some hours in the office gives employees freedom and flexibility at the same time as keeping them connected to their managers and teams.
“After more than a year of uncertainty and pandemic-induced remote work, there is a growing desire among some business leaders to return to business as usual, including welcoming employees back to the office once it is considered safe,” said David King from Robert Half. “However, companies should be prepared for a potential disconnect between their ideal work structures and that of their employees.”
In order to make a smooth and positive return to in-person working, Canadians surveyed said that these are their top picks for how employers can support the transition: – Freedom to set preferred office hours – Employer-paid commuting costs – A personal, distraction-free workspace – Relaxed dress code – Employer-provided childcare
“As we reimagine the future of work, now is the time for managers to engage in mindful discussions with their teams to determine what they most want and need,” explained King. “Establishing a return-to-work plan that prioritizes employee health and well-being and fosters a strong corporate culture can help bolster retention and recruitment efforts.”
Is your employer pressuring you to come back to the workplace? Here are some of the hottest remote jobs hiring right now.