Most Canadians want employers to be flexible on hybrid work arrangements in the future, survey finds
Most Canadians want employers to be flexible on hybrid work policies in the future, saying work-from-home arrangements enhance employee productivity and well-being, according to a new survey.
Spark*Advocacy conducted a national survey on behalf of the Public Service Alliance of Canada as tens of thousands of federal government employees were required to return to the office a minimum of three days a week this fall.
The survey of 1,635 Canadian adults finds 81 per cent of respondents say remote work is "good for employees," while 68 per cent report hybrid work has "improved productivity." Respondents aged 30 to 44 had the highest satisfaction with hybrid work, with 82 per cent saying remote work is good for employees and 73 per cent indicating it has improved productivity.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
When it comes to the impact of remote work, 73 per cent of respondents said hybrid work has made them more creative and passionate, 72 per cent said it made them happier and more enthusiastic about work and 68 per cent said they were more efficient in a remote work environment.
As the federal government and companies continue to assess the future of hybrid work, the survey finds 63 per cent of Canadians want employers to keep hybrid work "flexible so that managers and workers can make the best choices for each workplace," while 22 per cent believe companies should shift to as much remote work as possible.
"These results make it clear that Canadians believe that the growth in remote or flexible work arrangements has proven to be not only useful in the context of a pandemic but deserves to be a permanent part of the working life in many organizations," Bruce Anderson, partner at Spark*Advocacy, said in a statement.
"A key element of public opinion is a belief that each workplace can be different and that 'one size fits all' rules around work are probably not the best approach to achieving the best for employers or for workers."
As of Sept. 9, all federal employees in the core public service are required to be in the office a minimum of three days a week, while executives must be in the office four days a week.
Public section unions have expressed opposition to the government's new telework mandate, which began at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020.
"It makes no sense in going back to a workplace that doesn’t meet the needs of the workers. It makes no sense when they're able to do it from home comfortably and be able to meet their own work-life balance needs," Sharon DeSousa, national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, told CTV Morning Live on Sept. 9.
Newly released documents suggest the Treasury Board Secretariat focused on public scrutiny in its decision to mandate workers back to the office three days a week. The documents, obtained by PSAC, analyzed recent data and global trends various work models and examined the benefits and challenges implementing a return-to-work policy.
Slides prepared by Treasury Board in May 2022 recommended a "flexible first" approach "without prescribed office parameters" as the optimal model for hybrid work in the public sector, touting its benefits in boosting productivity and geographically distributed talent pool and various environmental benefits.
PSAC says the documents reveal the government ignored their own evidence and "steamrolled" ahead with a plan by focusing on public scrutiny of flexible work models.
The federal government has said the new hybrid work arrangement "reflects the benefits that consistent in person interactions offer."
Christiane Fox, Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council, told CTV News Ottawa in August that a return to the office will "help our ability to perform as organizations.”
“I think that our expectation is that, as we build stronger teams and stronger cultures, that leads to better services to Canadians, which is our ultimate objective,” said Fox.
With files from CTV News Ottawa's William Eltherington
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel launches strikes on military targets in Iran, escalating Mideast wars
Israel pounded Iran with a series of airstrikes early Saturday, saying it was targeting military targets in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired upon Israel earlier this month. Explosions could be heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, though there was no immediate information on damage or casualties.
'I did everything I could': Canada Post driver recounts helping save woman from fiery Tesla crash
Canada Post driver Rick Harper recounts how he and others helped save a woman from a Tesla that caught fire after crashing into a guardrail on Lake Shore Boulevard.
An abrupt goodbye to a guerilla goldfish aquarium beneath a leaky Brooklyn fire hydrant
A makeshift aquarium that popped up this summer in a puddle beneath a leaky fire hydrant in New York City has been paved over, to the dismay of neighbours who turned the area into a hangout spot and goldfish shrine.
Scotiabank confirms outage for mobile, online banking resolved
Scotiabank has confirmed outages affecting mobile and online banking services, according to a statement published to its X account.
Mother who beat and starved her 5-year-old son to death sentenced to over 50 years in prison
A New Hampshire woman was sentenced Friday to 53 years to life in prison in the death of her 5-year-old son, who was beaten, starved and exposed to drugs before his 19-pound body was found buried in a Massachusetts park in 2021.
Pizza inadvertently infused with THC sickens dozens in Wisconsin
Pizza inadvertently laced with THC has apparently sickened dozens of people in Wisconsin.
'Get away from your inner circle': Liberal MP 'shocked' PM didn't take more time to reflect on calls to resign
Longtime Liberal MP Wayne Long says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should give more weight to the views of his backbenchers in determining his future leading the Party, rather than relying on those in his immediate orbit.
Mom and child jumped from a window to escape a Las Vegas fire that killed 2 children and 2 adults
Two adults and two children were found dead in the charred rubble of a house fire after a mother and another child jumped from a third-floor window to escape flames in a southwest Las Vegas neighborhood, authorities said.
Four arrested in Poland over alleged plot to send explosives via courier to Canada, U.S.
Polish authorities have arrested four individuals they allege planned to send parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials to Canada and the United States, according to Poland’s government website.