Less than half of employers offer remote work options: survey

Many workers lack technology to do job at home

Less than half of employers offer remote work options: survey
More than three in five Canadian workers (61 per cent) say that they work from home when they can, finds a survey.

Less than half (43 per cent) of Canadian employees say that the company they work for offers remote work options, and 64 per cent of these employees take advantage of the perk, according to a survey from Robert Half.

"It's important for organizations to keep their finger on the pulse of what attracts job seekers, and the ability to work remotely is clearly an offering many professionals look for," says David King, senior district president of Robert Half. "To entice top talent, employers should assess where perks like alternative work options can fit within their organization in ways that allow workers the flexibility they want, without compromising business goals."

More than six in 10 (61 per cent) say that they work from home when they can while another three per cent work in a remote location, such as a cafe or a shared office space, found the survey of 500 workers.

The remaining 36 per cent, however, choose to always work in the office, and 47 per cent of do so because they don’t have the adequate technology to do their job away from the workplace. More than three in 10 (31 per cent) of them are also not as productive when working remotely, while 25 per cent say they miss out on opportunities or assignments when they are not in the office and 19 per cent feel lonely away from their station. 

More than half (54 per cent) of employees in the U.K. suffer from loneliness in the workplace, according to a survey by the CV Recruiter Library.

More than half (54 per cent) of senior managers say said their organization has expanded remote work opportunities for employees in the past three years, found Robert Half on another survey of 350 senior managers. Organizations with 500 or more employees were more likely to offer increased telecommuting options compared to smaller businesses.

"It's up to employers to set their staff up for success ― whether they're in the office or not," says King. "Managers need to equip workers with up-to-date tools and resources, and schedule regular updates or in-person check-ins, to ensure the entire team remains productive and engaged, no matter where they are."

A recent report out of the U.K. found that among parents staying in work mode, 54 per cent say their work has led to arguments with their children while 57 per cent say it has led to disagreements with their partners.

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