A majority (52 per cent) of human resources managers said they’ll continue with flexible working policies to support their employees’ work-life balance once the coronavirus pandemic is over, according to a new survey by Robert Half Canada Inc.
“The recent pivot to new working models has made managers more aware of the importance of work-life balance,” said David King, the firm’s Canadian senior district president, in a press release.
Many companies expect to continue offering programs and perks put in place during the pandemic, he added. Indeed, 45 per cent of respondents said they’ll continue to offer compressed work weeks, 40 per cent indicated they’ll keep job sharing in place and 41 per cent will make part-time work arrangements permanent.
Read: LinkedIn, Microsoft embracing flex-work policy for post-pandemic life
A separate new survey by Robert Half found the switch to remote working has employees working longer days.
More than half (55 per cent) of employees surveyed who transitioned to a remote setup as a result of the pandemic said they work weekends and about a third (34 per cent) reported regularly putting in more than eight hours a day.
Despite time saved from commuting and increased flexibility, longer workdays and heavier workloads have become a reality for many workers, making it more challenging for them to disconnect while at home, said King.
“It is critical that employers encourage their teams to take regular breaks and prioritize themselves and their well-being.”
Read: Employers focusing on engagement, mental health of remote workers