MANY OF US PREFER HYBRID WORK MODEL, BUT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, LABOUR ISSUES.
There’s little doubt that the pandemic has been the No. 1 driver of the work-from-home trend lately, with many Canadians feeling more accustomed to working from the comfort of their couch, their home office, and even their bed.
So accustomed, in fact, that 61 per cent of surveyed Canadians prefer a hybrid work model that sees them spending some days of the week in the office and other days at home, according to professional services and consulting firm Accenture PLC. However, there are a few mental health and labour law considerations employees and their bosses need to take into account in this hybrid world.
When it comes to the demographic breakdown, it turns out that 74 per cent of young Gen Z workers (up to 22 years old) are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in an on-site face-to-face setting. Younger millennials (23 to 38) in large urban settings were also more likely to feel more productive with on-site work, according to the report.
This is juxtaposed with nomadic remote workers who prefer more flexible options, often being Generation X (41 to 56) and older millennial employees, usually based in rural settings where getting around may be more difficult.
The demographics don’t necessarily define the attitude. Much of these workplace preferences are based on whether employees feel that they have the proper resources to address their concerns, whether there are mental health issues or a supportive leadership presence. Mental health has become a more pressing issue in workplaces, particularly over the past two years when the COVID-19 pandemic has weighed on morale.
“Canadians have adapted and have quickly become the ‘productive, anywhere’ worker,” said Janet Krstevski, Accenture’s managing director and the Canada talent and organization practice lead, in the report. “However, the state of Canadians’ mental health is concerning and as responsible leaders, we need to advance the future of work dialogue to be not just about location, but to also address what drives the productivity, health and resilience of Canadian workers.”
Workplace mental health, whether it’s felt in the office or at home, may continue to influence these decisions. The Mental Health Index report by Lifeworks found that 68 per cent of surveyed Canadians have had difficulty with their mental health with one in five Canadians indicating that isolation had been the most difficult part for them.
The report also addressed that working Canadians need more clarity from their employers when it comes to plans to return to the office. At least one-quarter of surveyed Canadians said they’re unsure of what the return-to-work plan is and 12 per cent don’t even believe their employer has a plan in place, making them all the more uneasy about what the next few months may bring.
This also comes when headlines are rife with major companies announcing their expectations of employees returning to the office around fall.
Another topic that needs to be addressed in the work-from-home reality is the labour law side of remote work. A report by the Fraser Institute argues that policy-makers shouldn’t enforce outdated laws and regulations on a remote working model (which can be further bogged down by provincial jurisdiction issues as some workers live in one province and work in another), but should instead focus on taking down the barriers that prevent telecommuting employment in Canada.
“Laws designed for large, structured businesses just don’t make sense when people are working from home,” said Jason Clemens, the executive vice-president at the Fraser Institute. “Employment standards regarding works hours and breaks, for example, are impossible to enforce when employees work remotely.”
THE STATE OF CANADIANS’ MENTAL HEALTH IS CONCERNING.