Since the start of the pandemic, the proportion of Canadians working from home at least some of the time has doubled. While working from home, many Canadians feel fed up with video meetings, spend too much time in meetings, miss collaborating with colleagues, and struggle to separate their work and home lives. However, two thirds of Canadians working from home think they can do their job from home as effectively as in the office. Of those working from home currently, six out of ten would like to do so permanently.

1. Base: all respondents (620) 1
What working from home in a pandemic means for companies and their employees
Canadians and the New World of Work
Working from Home:
Since the start of the pandemic, the
proportion of Canadians working from home
at least some of the time has doubled
Zoom fatigue is real:
38% are fed up with video meetings (Zoom, Skype)
32% feel they spend too much time in meetings
Connection, Community and Collaboration:
Three quarters of Canadians miss their work
colleagues and have been socializing less and 58% feel
that their collaboration with colleagues is suffering
since they started working from home
Work Life Balance is Key:
9 out of 10 working Canadians say that being able
to clearly separate their home and work life is
important to them; half of those working from
home said their ability to do so has suffered
Productivity:
A third said their productivity is worse since the
start of the disruption, while a fifth said it has
improved in that time
Security:
Despite the disruption of the year so far, two thirds of
currently employed Canadians feel fairly secure in
their jobs, and two thirds of Canadians currently
working from home think they’re just as able to do their
job at home as in the office
31%
66%Since the start
of COVID-19
Pre
COVID-19
Continue to Work from Home:
Of those currently working from home, 6 out of 10
would like to do so permanently

2. Canadians are working from home – and most would be happy to keep it that
way
The shift from the workplace to the home office has fueled employee stress.
Employers need to acknowledge the concerns of their employees and help
them separate their work and home life – such as by establishing flexible
priorities and guidelines for responding emails
Employees have home-based work spaces with limited privacy. Employers
should ensure their workers are equipped & inspired – consider chair, desk and
technology upgrades that can enhance employee focus while working at home
Have fewer video meetings and ensure collaborations end with clear action
steps for participants
Next Steps