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TE OPINION: OUR CHANGED WORLD REMOTE OR OFFICE WORK, COVID A ‘CATALYST FOR CHANGE’ WORK-FROM-HOME OPTIONS LIKELY TO REMAIN POST PANDEMIC: CONFERENCE BOARD OF CANADA Working from home, videoconferencing, relo- cation to different pares of the country the demic has certainly chit od ne where and when lians work. Eilaese “tae had to ine sed respon- sibilities a and/or adjust to new forms of work ar. ment: iS, aS some hi been “tasked with simulta. neously playing the role of employee, parent, chefand Conference Board of Cana- did in partnership with Carleton and Ryerson Uni- ERIN MILLS Column LINDSAY COFFIN Column ents and co-workers, still others are actively seeking out work-from-home op- tions when considering a job or career change. It is something employ- ers can offer to attract and retain talent and increase their search over a larger Thisal- versity, “Remote, Office or Hybrid?" showed that as expected, COVID-19 hasin- been a catalyst for chang e. Employee preferences regarding post-pandemic work arrangements vary widely, but results do show that most employ- ees prefer to continue working the way they did during the pandemic, which presents both chal- lenges and opportunities for employers and em- ployees alike. Working from home can be just as productive as working in an office and is highly valued by em- ployees, particularly as it facilitates a better work- life balance for some. Re- mote work, where possi- ble, will likely remain an option. Employe adapting and allowing for flexible working arrange- ments to keep employees engaged and productive. Prior to the pandemic, many organizations were resistant to flexible or re- mote work offerings. le some employees prefer in-person connec- tions and look forward to ti to conferences, events and travel with cli- lows organizations to at- tract better prospective employees as they n't limited to talent located t in close proximity to the Our CEO Dr. Susan Black, PhD, for example, has made the bold move of selling our head office, cre- ating a virtual-first organi- zation, which has resulted a truly pan-Canadian or- ganization wil re- presentation from almost all provinces in the coun- try. The ongoing pandemic has also affected the men- tal health and well-being of employees. Many Cana- OUR CHANGED WORLD Canada’s leading thinkers reflect on how COVID-19 has dians have reported anxi- ety, fatigue and a myriad mental health concerns as aresult of the uncertainty, lockdowns and tions. This has resulted in some organizations offer- ins enhanced mental health benefits, while oth- ers trial four-day work weeks that improve em- ployee flexibility. The ig impor- tant research on this topic and has exciting an- nouncements soon. The workplace mea- sures that become perma- nent in a_post-COVID world will become clearer }, as we navigate through re- strictions to recovery. is s those organizations that are able to onectively adapt to the ever-changing pandemic while continui port their employees, that will be in the best position to mitigate and manage the demands of the future. Lindsay Coffin is the Conference Board of Cana- da's senior research asso- ciate, human capital. Erin Mills is director, human capital and workplace health at the Conference Board of Canada D. SCOTT CAMPBELL 55 Sinclair Ave., Unit #6 Georgetown, Ontario L7G 4x4 Telephone: (905) 877-0033 1-800-465-1575 Fax: (905) 877-2787 www.unitedfire.com 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown | 905-873-1655 Bennett’s Waste Disposal Storing trash does no good to anyone. Let us remove your waste right away! 905-873-4808 net ¢ ADIMSION OF = = 1H UOWEH - cll UL | 2Z FY 2 a Es s = a Ed 5 2 8 x 8 8 8