Less than half (43 per cent) of Canadian employees said their company provides the option to work remotely, according to a new survey by Robert Half Canada Inc.
Among this group, 61 per cent said they take advantage of the perk and work from home, while another three per cent said they do their job from another location, such as a café or shared office space. For the remaining 36 per cent who said they don’t take advantage of the option, the main deterrents to working out of the office included not having the right technology (47 per cent) and being less productive due to distractions (31 per cent).
Read: 47% of Canadian employees work remotely: survey
“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,” said 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.
“It’s up to employers to set their staff up for success, whether they’re in the office or not. 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.”
Read: Isolation, missing out on team environment top downsides of remote working: survey