Small business leading the way for telecommuting: Survey

Highest percentage of workers teleworking in Ontario, fewest in Quebec

One-third (31 per cent) of Canadian companies are enabling employees to telecommute as a way to increase productivity and reduce expenses, according to a BMO Bank of Montreal survey.

Eleven per cent of employees at small businesses (with fewer than 50 employees) telecommute, compared to six per cent at larger businesses. And one-half of small business telecommuters spend at least 80 per cent of the workweek outside the office.

"For small businesses, being flexible and innovative can extend well beyond the products and services they offer. Telecommuting can offer some key advantages to both employees and employers," said Joe Collura, small business area manager at BMO Bank of Montreal. "Flexible work arrangements help maintain work-life balance for employees, improve productivity and strengthen the connection between a business and its customers by increasing the time employees spend off-site and in face-to-face customer conversations."

Regionally, Ontario businesses have the greatest percentage of companies with employees who telecommute (37 per cent), while Quebec has the fewest (16 per cent), found the survey of 500 business owners.

National

B.C.

AB

Prairies

ON

PQ

ATL

Per cent of companies with telecommuting workers

31%

32%

34%

36%

37%

16%

31%

Per cent of employees who telecommute

9%

14%

7%

8%

11%

4%

4%

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