Teleworking employees want to know their employer's position: survey
The COVID-19 pandemic has democratized telecommuting so much that many workers say they're thinking of not going back to the office -- if their employers will allow it.
Jonathan Anestin, an account manager for a technology company in Ohio, U.S., joined his new, remote team in August 2020.
Though he says he wasn't specifically looking for a job that would allow him to work from home full-time, he says he now enjoys the lifestyle and understands why some workers are apprehensive about returning to work in person.
The young father, who used to get up between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. to arrive at work by 9 a.m., says he happily traded the hours lost in traffic and the rush to get kids to daycare for the flexibility he's gained in the past year.
"Now, if you asked me to go back to the office, I don't know if I could do it," he said.
However, a lack of clarity around the terms and conditions of returning to work post-COVID-19 is making some workers anxious about returning to the office.
Employees whose organizations have not provided detailed information about future strategies for telecommuting say they are more likely to doubt that they will be able to continue working from home.
These people are also more concerned about returning to the office, according to findings from a survey conducted by LifeWorks, a wellness solutions firm formerly known as Morneau Shepell.
The survey was conducted online between May 28 and June 4 among 3,000 Canadian respondents.
According to the survey, one quarter (25 per cent) of employees have no idea what their organization is planning and 12 per cent do not believe their employer has a plan.
That means 37 per cent of employees surveyed still don't know what they're doing with five weeks to go until September -- the time many employers are targeting a return to the office.
More than one-third (38 per cent) of employees surveyed expect their boss to demand they return to the office.
Only six per cent believe they will be able to choose where they work. These employees reported a significantly better 'mental health score' (-6.0) compared to the general population (-10.7), using a monthly mental health index that LifeWorks has been working on since April 2020.
In June, the Mental Health Index was nearly 11 points below the pre-2020 baseline score.
The data indicate there are some concerns among those surveyed that they will be forced into a directive or denied a hybrid model by their employer, despite public support for telecommuting that has been widely documented in recent months.
LifeWorks' vice-president of sales and customer success, Lisa Angeloni, says there is a lack of information for employees about the various options.
"There's clearly an anxiety that's caused perhaps by a lack of communication or clarity about the return-to-work plan," she said, pointing out employers would be well advised to share their intention as soon as possible to avoid uncertainty.
This would also contribute to a greater sense of well-being and security, Angeloni says.
The firm says evidence suggests that workers whose employers demonstrate greater flexibility are more likely to be mentally healthy, motivated and productive.
Angeloni points out, according to other surveys the firm has conducted, a large majority of employees would like to continue telecommuting.
That's why she says LifeWorks believes companies must listen to employees' needs, especially during a labour shortage where people can choose to move to a place that guarantees more flexibility.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 23, 2021.
-- This article was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Grants.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to squash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
A subset of Alzheimer's cases may be caused by two copies of a single gene, new research shows
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
B.C. court date set for 3 accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three suspects accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year are scheduled to appear in court in Surrey on Tuesday.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.