Flexible work models, greater focus on culture and connection, and improving technology will continue to be important to employees and employers
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 10, 2024 /CNW/ - Work continues to evolve, and with the return to work life following the holiday season, many are wondering: what will this year hold for hybrid work and workplaces throughout Canada? Staples Professional is sharing its predictions for workplace trends that will prevail this year and beyond, informed by its Evolution of Work Report, a survey conducted in collaboration with Angus Reid Group, North America's foremost name in research.
"We're experts in the world of work, and we're seeing that companies are continuing to evolve their understanding of what workplace strategies look like and how they can best support employees," said David Boone, CEO, Staples Canada. "As a brand committed to supporting employers and employees, we have worked with our expert partners to help identify key trends that will help inform strategies to create workplaces that foster connectivity, collaboration and culture."
Key trends that workplaces can expect in 2024:
- Flexible work models are here to stay. Most hybrid workers are required to come into the office between one to three days each week, and four-in-five (81%) of those surveyed are highly satisfied with their current arrangement of home and in-office days.
- Greater focus on connection and culture. The top benefits of in-office days among employees include building quality relationships (65%), better communicating with colleagues (53%), and feeling connected to your company (48%).
- Technology will continue to be both a draw and a need for the workplaces of the future. Many hybrid workers rely on the office for access to equipment they may not have at home – hybrid workers who come into the office most often are also most likely to say better access to equipment is a main benefit to coming in (37%). Among all hybrid workers, roughly one-third (30%) say better access to equipment is one of the main benefits to coming into the office.
- Hybrid workers are still working on their home office setup and have access to better workspaces in the office. Hybrid workers who are less happy with their home office setups are more likely to be relying on in-office equipment. Those who say their home working setup is only 'adequate' or 'poor' are more likely to cite better equipment as a reason for coming in (43% vs. 25% of those who are happy with their work-from-home setups).
- Hybrid work models make employees happier. The majority of those surveyed (56%) say they're happier on the days when they work from home. Employees report being happier more of the time in the office if they are a newer employee with the company (51%), experiencing low/no burnout (47%) and are able to choose how many or which days they come into the office (50%). In contrast to the rest of Canada, if you're a Quebecer, you're happier more of the time in the office (58%), vs. working from home.
- Workplaces will continue to adjust their work models, but personalizing the model for your company is key to supporting optimized productivity. While the majority of employees felt they were well-informed about when and how often they will be coming into the office in 2023, almost half (47%) are uncertain about work guidelines for 2024 and beyond.
"With everything that we've learned and continue to learn about hybrid work and its impact on employee happiness and productivity, it's important for workplaces to find the right balance, and support their employees with the right solutions," continued Boone.
As the leader in business solutions, Staples Professional continues to keep a pulse on the evolving world of work to partner with its clients on how to best support them with hybrid work solutions. This includes everything from technology and workplace design solutions to branded promotional products and everyday office supplies – all with the goal of supporting productivity and connection to a client's brand and culture. Members receive access to a dedicated account manager who tailors the business program to their organization, providing access to a network of product subject matter experts, easy online ordering, discounts and perks, free next-day delivery and more.
As well, to help inform its solutions around hybrid work, Staples continues to work with a team of experts for its Work from Anywhere Advisory Council, a collective of industry experts and thought leaders across the fields of tech, productivity, design, ergonomics, and more. The Council supports the new world of work with expert insights, thought leadership and informative content to work smarter, learn more and grow every day. Find out more about the Staples Work from Anywhere Advisory Council and its members at here.
In partnership with Staples Canada, the Angus Reid Group conducted an online survey among a representative sample of 1,006 hybrid working employees and 311 employers who have their workforce working hybrid within Canada. The survey was conducted from August 4 – 15, 2023, in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points for employees and +/- 4.8 percentage points for employers, 19 times out of 20. More information on The Evolution of Work Report can be accessed on Angus Reid Group's Intelligence page.
Staples Canada is The Working and Learning Company. The privately-owned company is committed to being a dynamic, inspiring partner to customers who visit its 300+ locations and staples.ca. The company has two brands which support business customers: Staples Preferred for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and Staples Professional for medium to large-sized enterprises, as well as seven Staples Studio co-working facilities across Canada. Through Solutionshop, Canadians can access a variety of pack and ship options, as well as a broad suite of business services. Staples is a proud partner of MAP through its Even the Odds campaign, which aims to tackle inequities in communities across Canada and helps make a future that's fair for everyone. Visit staples.ca for more information or engage with us at @StaplesCanada on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.
Angus Reid is Canada's most well-known and respected name in opinion and market research data. Offering a variety of research solutions to businesses, brands, governments, not-for-profit organizations and more, the Angus Reid team connects technologies and people to derive powerful insights that inform your decisions. Data is collected through a suite of tools utilizing the latest technologies. Prime among that is the Angus Reid Forum, an opinion community consisting of engaged residents across the country who answer surveys on topical issues that matter to all Canadians.
SOURCE Staples Canada ULC
Media information: Staples Canada: Kathleen Stelmach, 905-737-1147 Ext. 578, [email protected]; Golin, for Staples Canada, Meg Murphy, 647-475-4495, [email protected]
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