Remote Work is Here to Stay and Canadian Companies That Offer It Have Competitive Edge

Kitchener, Ontario, December 15, 2022—Remote work is here to stay and employers offering it have a competitive edge when it comes to retaining and recruiting employees, according to a survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.

Three-quarters of businesses (76%) that have offered remote work since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic say they are continuing to allow their employees to work remotely. The most cited reason is to help attract and retain employees (66%).

Nearly half of employers (49%) say remote work has had a positive impact on their company as a whole, while only 15% say it has had a negative impact, and the remainder say it has had no impact at all. 

What’s more, a plurality of employers (46%) say remote work has not impacted employee productivity compared to when they were in the company’s physical workspace. Nearly a quarter of companies (22%) reported their employees became more productive, though one-third (32%) of companies say their employees became less productive with remote work. 

“Many companies in the Kitchener region continue to offer work from home arrangements or a hybrid of home and office. However, we are seeing more companies slowly taking this benefit away. It’s yet to be seen whether the workforce will accept a return or move on to a more flexible employer.” said Michael Elliott, multi-franchise owner of the Kitchener and London Express franchise offices. “I think companies were very worried that productivity would go down at the beginning of the work from home cycle. It didn’t take long for workers and companies to realize that this was a viable solution. The initial offer was one of the biggest transformations to occur in the work environment, and it appeals to those who were craving a more flexible work/life balance.” 

When, and if, the country’s labour shortages ease, it remains to be seen if fully remote or hybrid workplace options are as prevalent, said Express Employment Professionals CEO Bill Stoller.

“As long as productivity doesn’t suffer, offering a remote work option for employees has many benefits and is a popular incentive shaping many companies’ cultures right now,” he added. “While this arrangement may not be feasible for everyone, competition for top talent is still fierce, so it may be worth a try.”

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online within Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between May 3-23, 2022, among 504 Canadian hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in Canada who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

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About Express Employment Professionals 

At Express Employment Professionals, we’re in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, employing 586,000 people globally in 2021 and 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com/CA. 

The Kitchener Express office is located at 385 Frederick St Unit 3, and serves the Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford, and surrounding communities. Local businesses and applicants are encouraged to visit www.expresspros.com/kitchener or call (519) 578-9030.

About Bill Stoller 

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment  International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.