Amid the rising pressures and challenges of the shift to remote working as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, employers are adjusting organizational programs to meet evolving business and employee needs, according to a new survey by the Conference Board of Canada.
A majority (more than 70 per cent) of employers surveyed said they’ve adjusted their organization’s health and safety program, including their mental-health program. Over 60 per cent said they’ve made changes to their organizational culture and employee engagement programs, while 20 per cent said they’ve made changes to their benefits and compensation offerings, as well as performance assessment. Some 10 per cent have adjusted their career development program.
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The survey also found most employees are still working remotely due to the ongoing pandemic. Half (50 per cent) of respondents to this question said their employees are working remotely fully or most of the time. In contrast, close to 35 per cent said their employees are working onsite fully or most of the time. And almost 15 per cent said they have a hybrid arrangement that allows employees to split their time between working onsite or at home.
However, new operational issues, particularly around employee engagement and collaboration, have emerged as a result of the shift to remote working, according to the survey. Indeed, the majority (over 70 per cent) of employers that responded to this question said they’re finding employee engagement challenging in the remote environment. And about 10 per cent said they’ve encountered insurance issues or tax issues with employees working abroad or inter-provincially.
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