The Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan is continuing to embrace a hybrid working arrangement for employees following positive feedback gathered through internal surveys.
In the years since the organization introduced a hybrid arrangement in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, employee satisfaction and happiness has continually increased, says Anna MacDonald, the ASEBP’s director of human resources services. A recent internal survey found 90 per cent of employees agreed or strongly agreed the organization cares about their well-being, while more than eight in 10 said they feel happy in the workplace.
“We had a less than two per cent voluntary turnover and our sick time is less than 50 per cent of national averages — between three and four days per year.”
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The results are in line with other national research. A 2025 survey by International Working Group found 44 per cent of Canadian workers in a hybrid arrangement said they take fewer sick days compared to employees working onsite. Seven in 10 (71 per cent) said they experienced fewer stress-related health issues and the same percentage said the flexibility helped them better manage existing health conditions.
The survey by IWG also found employers reported positive outcomes, noting three-quarters (74 per cent) of senior leaders said flexible arrangements led to stronger productivity and employee engagement.
The organization’s leadership is expected to be in office 20 per cent of the time per month, which works out to once per week plus “going in with purpose” to attend in-person meetings and special events, says Nikki Booth, the ASEBP’s communication manager.
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“[Special events] are a big part of what makes [our workplace culture] special, because there’s relationship building and connection points. We celebrate each other and we have fun.”
MacDonald says the ASEBP’s hybrid arrangement is also supporting the organization’s attraction and retention efforts. The organization’s internal survey found 94 per cent of employees plan to continue working at the organization and she notes 66 per cent of management roles are held by women. She credits the latter statistic to the flexibility offered by a hybrid working arrangement.
“I think we can attract and retain some really strong talent and we have more female applicants as well. . . . We’re able to be really flexible to support families and. . . . It really drives [employee] engagement and when people are engaged, they do that extra discretionary work — they’re not out the door at 4 p.m.”
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