Canadian workers find hybrid work set up beneficial in midst of economic crisis

More people now work with a hybrid set up compared to the previous year

Canadian workers find hybrid work set up beneficial in midst of economic crisis

There are now more Canadians who are reaping the benefits of having a job with a hybrid work set up, a report by Aviva Canada said. 

Based on the findings of a survey conducted on 2,500 Canadians, the report showed that 25% of the employees enjoyed the collaboration and 21% of them found the social atmosphere that came with spending time in the physical office with their coworkers to be favorable.  

Around 15% of the respondents also said that work and home responsibilities were easily manageable because the hybrid set up gave them more flexibility. This was an increase from the 9% who answered the same thing in the previous year.  

Despite a lower percentage of workers who had fully remote jobs (19%) compared to last year (27%), there are now more employees who have a hybrid work set up, as 29% of the respondents said that they were working with a hybrid set up a few days every week — a 4% increase from 2022.  

With the fears surrounding the economy due to Bank of Canada’s hikes in interest rates and the rising inflation among others, it is not surprising that employees are seeking safety and stability within their jobs. This had played a part in the ease of trends in resignation. 

Cost of living and inflation worry is a sentiment widely expressed throughout this year's report, reflecting how economic doubts have lingered post Covid, impacting Canadian decisions from housing to activities to leisure activities and even their decision to perhaps remain in their current roles," said Susan Penwarden, managing director, personal lines, Aviva Canada. 

18% of the respondents admitted that they were worried about the impact of inflation on the economy, as well as the possibility of a recession.  

13% said that they found layoffs and the current economic condition to be concerning. 13% also expressed their worries regarding the impact of the economy on their pay raise or promotions while the same percentage also worried about their capability to find another job if they lose the one they currently have.  

"It's great to see the social benefits of hybrid work bringing enthusiasm back to office days, but it's still very much a world of contradiction as people try to embrace the social benefits while managing commuting frustrations and their growing concern over the impact of the current economic outlook,” said Penwarden.