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1 in 3 workers may quit if called back to office full time

Monday, April 12, 2021

About 33 per cent of professionals currently working from home due to the pandemic would look for a new job if called back to the office full time.

A new study by global staffing firm Robert Half also found that more than half of all employees surveyed (51 per cent) said they prefer a hybrid work arrangement, where they can divide time between the office and another location.

Yet workers were also hesitant about working from home full time, worried about relationships with co-workers suffering (39 per cent), fewer career advancement opportunities due to a lack of visibility (21 per cent) and lower productivity at home (16 per cent).

The online survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm from March 9-16, 2021. It includes responses from more than 500 workers 18 years of age or older at companies in Canada.

The survey points the way for organizations to perhaps offer more flexibility as workers may not be ready to return to the office. Respondents said their company can best support them with freedom to set preferred office hours, employer-paid commuting costs, a personal, distraction-free workspace, relaxed dress code and employer-provided childcare.

“As we reimagine the future of work, now is the time for managers to engage in mindful discussions with their teams to determine what they most want and need,” said David King, Canadian senior district president of Robert Half. “Establishing a return-to-work plan that prioritizes employee health and well-being and fosters a strong corporate culture can help bolster retention and recruitment efforts.”

For more tips on managing change as staff return to the office, visit the Robert Half Blog.

 

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