Canadians ready but offices not meeting needs
Canadians don’t seem as reluctant to return to the office these days, but they still have some beefs about the way their on-site workspaces are set up.
A majority, or 64 per cent, of workers say they’d support a mandate from their boss ordering them back to the office, according to a new survey from Cisco Systems Canada Co.
More than half say they’d be willing to make the trek so they can collaborate with co-workers, while 28 per cent would do so for the social interaction.
That comes as more than three-quarters of companies have decided to tell workers to return, whether for five days a week or less. Company leaders say they want people back for productivity and workplace culture reasons and, not unlike employees, think teams will find it easier to collaborate on-site.
But many workers say their offices aren’t designed for quality collaboration in a hybrid work world, and only 40 per cent deem their workplaces “very well prepared” to meet their needs.
Indeed, 83 per cent of employers say half their offices are still made up of individual desks, instead of offering more space for meetings and collaboration.
Employers appear to be taking note of the disconnect. Two-thirds have either redesigned their office space since the pandemic began or are planning to in the next two years, the survey said.
Still, many seem to be dragging their feet on incorporating artificial intelligence into their operations, something workers say they want, the survey said.
To keep employees content, businesses will need to make building suitable office spaces a priority this year, said Shannon Leininger, president of Cisco Canada.
“Companies in 2024 need to invest strategically to create spaces that are a magnet for employees,” she said in a news release. “The backbone of modern workspaces lies in robust, Ai-enabled technology infrastructure and seamless, secure connectivity. To meet the evolving needs of employees, workspaces will need to be reimagined and built for purpose.”
Workplace redesigns and calls to return to the office don’t necessarily herald an end to working from home. Hybrid work and flexibility will remain the norm because so many workers continue to expect it, the Cisco report said.
Right now, 29 per cent of employees prefer a mix of remote and hybrid work, 34 per cent want to come into the office more often and 30 per cent want to work more at home.
Employers are largely on board with those desires, with 24 per cent preferring hybrid work, 34 per cent in favour of mostly in-office work and 30 per cent preferring more remote work, the survey said.