All generations of Canadian workers say a hybrid working arrangement is most conducive to productivity and job satisfaction, according to a new survey by Humi.
The survey, which polled more than 500 employees, found generation Z (44 per cent), generation X (30.5 per cent) and baby boomers (30 per cent) prefer mostly in-office days with occasional remote days, while millennials prefer mostly remote days with occasional in-office days (36.8 per cent).
Read: Survey finds hybrid, remote employees more productive, connected to work
Half (52 per cent) of gen Z employees said a hybrid environment is most conducive to their productivity and job satisfaction, favouring mostly in-office with occasional remote days (44 per cent) to mostly remote with occasional in-office days (34 per cent).
Millennials were the strongest proponents of a fully remote work environment (29.7 per cent), followed by gen X (22.5 per cent), baby boomers (18.3 per cent) and gen Z (18 per cent). Baby boomers were the strongest proponent of a fully in-office work environment (25 per cent), compared to gen X (12.8 per cent), millennials (7 per cent) and gen Z (10 per cent).
Additionally, 54 per cent of Canadian employees said they value flexible work hours and this flexibility is considered a must-have by 31.6 per cent of gen X and 30.6 per cent of millennials. While only 14 per cent of gen Z and two per cent of baby boomers said they consider flexible work hours a must-have, the majority of each generation (66 per cent and 51.7 per cent, respectively) indicated they value them very much.
Read: 72% of U.S. employees staying with their employer to keep pay, job security: survey
More than half (56 per cent) of gen Z indicated they value company culture, followed by 67.9 per cent of gen X, 65 per cent of baby boomers and 60.7 per cent of millennials. The two most popular factors of company culture were work-life balance (80.1 per cent) and a collaborative team environment (74.4 per cent).
A sense of achievement was the top motivating factor for all generations, led by baby boomers at 41.7 per cent and followed by gen X (34.2 per cent), millennials (31.4 per cent) and gen Z (30 per cent). Gen Z was the most enthusiastic generation about professional development opportunities, with 50 per cent indicating they value them very much and 42 per cent indicating they’re a must-have.
“Every Canadian deserves a work environment they can trust and excel in and this starts with employers listening to their employees’ needs and preferences,” said Courtney Lee, vice-president of people at Humi, in a press release. “While it may seem daunting to manage a multigenerational workforce . . . employers should focus on shared core values that transcend generations to increase job satisfaction and empower managers to connect with team members one-on-one to tailor their experience as needed.”
Read: Expert panel: How employers can support a multigenerational workforce