A recent survey found that more than half (54 per cent) of Canadians feel their workplace is outdated and 47 per cent believe it’s out of touch with their needs.Graeme Roy/The Canadian Press
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Let’s start Monday off with a question: Would you rather sit in the middle seat of an airplane for the rest of your life when flying or go into the office every day?
A recent survey by iQ Offices, Canada’s largest independent co-working operator, found 40 per cent of Canadians would rather opt for that dreaded middle seat than return to their current office environment full time. This certainly says something about how much we value working from home, at least a few days a week.
“People make assumptions as to why people don’t want to go back to the office, but I don’t know that they’re necessarily accurate, and that’s what we really want to uncover,” says Kane Willmott, chief executive officer of iQ Offices.
The survey reveals 43 per cent of Canadians do not enjoy going to their current workplace. A major reason for this dissatisfaction is that many workplaces have failed to create an encouraging, positive and enjoyable atmosphere. More than half (54 per cent) feel their workplace is outdated and 47 per cent believe it’s out of touch with their needs.
However, the popular belief that “no one” wants to return to the office is a misconception. While fully remote work has become the norm for many since the pandemic, the survey shows 43 per cent of Canadians actually prefer working in-office, either full time or in a hybrid capacity. This suggests that under the right conditions, Canadians are open to returning to the office – but it has to meet their needs.
“A significant chunk of the people that are looking at returning to the office are saying that the space they’re returning to does not meet their needs,” Mr. Willmott says. “That creates a challenge, because when it doesn’t meet their needs, all the other reasons not to go to the office get compounded.”
The survey highlights a few key factors that could motivate Canadians to come back to the office:
- Ease of commute (42 per cent)
- Comfortable and dynamic workspaces (38 per cent)
- In-person collaboration and socialization (35 per cent)
Perhaps if companies can address these areas, they have a real opportunity to draw employees back – but creating comfortable, collaborative, amenity-rich spaces and reducing the burden of commuting isn’t always easy, especially when many offices were built pre-pandemic and are not designed to accommodate the evolving needs of today’s work force.
Mr. Willmott says companies that are fully remote, or are considering a hybrid working arrangement, can leverage resources like co-working spaces to bring their people together at key times, increase engagement, and test the waters.
“Co-working spaces offer this great opportunity for companies to still have an on-site experience without taking on the obligation of a long-term lease,” he says.
Whichever approach companies choose, the survey offers a clear takeaway: Canadians are open to returning to the office, but they need the right conditions.
Fast fact
Salary transparency – with a catch
50 per cent
About half of the opportunities on job-posting site Indeed include pay information, up from about 20 per cent in 2019. While this rise in transparency can be positive for companies and workers, most companies are posting ranges instead of specific numbers. Some companies that operate in locations where including salary information is mandatory are finding loopholes, like providing a range of between $1 and $1-million or offering a salary below the range after interviews are completed.
Career guidance
When you’ve already booked the vacation
A worker is in the final stages of accepting a new job offer, but they need two weeks off shortly after they will start for their upcoming destination wedding. They’re wondering how and when to bring it up, and what to do if the employer can’t accommodate it.
Experts say to wait until the offer is on the table to bring up the wedding, and be flexible by offering to take the time unpaid or starting after the wedding. Don’t let this request stop you from negotiating other parts of the offer and be assertive in your approach. Lastly, if the company cannot accommodate your request, it’s probably better to move on and look for a company that values your life commitments outside of work.
Quoted
Why office time matters
“I encourage former students early in their careers to spend as much time in the office with colleagues as they can. In the long run, rising early, getting dressed and hitting the road is a small price to lay the foundation for your career,” writes Dan Richards, serial founder, former public company chief executive and a member of the marketing faculty at the Rotman School of Management.
Mr. Richards examines the pros and cons of remote work for businesses and employees, and shares research – like how remote work can negatively affect your chance of promotion – that supports his advice that early-career workers should spend more time in the office.
On our radar
Closing the AI skills gap
In response to a critical skills gap in the work force, Salesforce is launching a $50-million initiative to provide free AI training and certifications through its Trailhead platform – including pop-up AI centres for in-person community AI training – until the end of 2025.