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

London, 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. 

“There are a number of companies still offering new hires the option to work remotely; however, we are seeing a lower percentage of companies doing so. Most of the time if there is the option of remote work, it is a hybrid version where the new employees are splitting time between remote work and on site,” said James Norris franchise owner of the London Express franchise office. “For some people looking to change jobs, remote work positions are the only ones they are interested in. It really is role specific and individual specific as to whether remote only is the right choice. When hiring, companies should reevaluate the scope of each position to see what benefits and challenges would be present for a remote or hybrid work option. I would encourage hiring managers to hire the best person possible, even if it means changing their perspective on remote work.” 

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 London Express office is located at 300 Dundas Street, Suite 200, and serves the London, Middlesex, St. Thomas, Strathroy, Stratford, Woodstock, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, and Southwestern Ontario. Local businesses and applicants are encouraged to visit https://expresspros.com/london/ or call (519)672-7620.

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.