Most Canadian employees support a hybrid approach to office work, with 80 per cent preferring some in-office time and only one in five favouring fully remote work, according to a new survey by Indeed.
The survey, which polled more than 1,000 full-time Canadian employees, found a sharp shift from pre-pandemic office norms, with just 34 per cent of respondents now working in the office five days a week or more, down from 83 per cent before the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly two-thirds said they now work in a hybrid arrangement, averaging about three in-office days per week.
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While in-office work remains part of most employees’ routines, the survey suggested rigid return-to-office policies carry real tradeoffs. Nearly nine in 10 respondents reported at least one challenge associated with working in the office, including reduced time for personal or family responsibilities, less flexibility in working hours, sleep disruption and increased feelings of burnout.
Women reported these challenges at higher rates than men, including greater time pressure, burnout and financial strain. Statistics Canada data shows women spend 42 per cent more time than men on unpaid labour such as housework, caregiving and errands, which may help explain why in-office requirements disproportionately affect women.
Cost pressures also emerged as a key concern. While only 30 per cent of respondents identified financial strain as a primary challenge, 95 per cent said their expenses increased due to in-office work, most often for transportation, meals and work attire. More than half of those who reported higher clothing costs said they didn’t have enough appropriate attire to accommodate increased in-office days.
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The survey also pointed to potential retention risks for employers that increase mandatory in-office days without flexibility or consultation. Only 20 per cent of respondents said they’d feel positive about an increase in required in-office time, while nearly one in five said they’d consider looking for another job.