Many Canadians hope to continue working from home post pandemic

Are you hoping you’ll be able to continue working from home even after the pandemic ends?

A recent survey from KPMG in Canada found that 77 per cent of Canadians want the flexibility to work in the office and remotely after the pandemic ends.

According to the findings, 71 per cent believe a hybrid workplace, or hybrid office, should be the standard model for all organizations.

However, 81 per cent of respondents expressed concern that their bosses aren’t properly equipped to manage a hybrid workplace, and 49 per cent believe they could be overlooked for promotions or face discrimination if they continue working from home.

“Although the novelty of everyone working remotely for months on end has worn off, Canadians definitely crave the flexibility to stay at home or go into the office when required,” Doron Melnick, partner and national leader of KPMG’s People and Change practice, said in a news release.

“It’s equally clear that Canadians have a lot of concerns about how that will work. For many organizations, it’s uncharted territory. But, the risks can be addressed with supports, such as training, technology, guidelines, and policies,” he continued.

Additionally, 63 per cent said they want to return to the office, but 72 per cent expressed reluctance to take public transit to get there and 59 per cent expressed concern for work-related travel, domestically and internationally.

Further, 57 per cent believe employers have the right to insist staff be vaccinated before returning to work, and 54 per cent believe their employer should require proof of vaccination.