Quebec companies want employees back in the office: poll

Two years after the lifting of all health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, teleworking has remained a popular option for Quebec workers who have parental or caregiving responsibilities.

However, employers have been asking them to increase their presence in the office.

According to the most recent data conducted by Léger on behalf of Concilivi, the proportion of employed parents who have the option to work from home remains stable at around 58 per cent – most of them in hybrid mode.

It’s also reported that nearly half, 46 per cent, indicated that over the past year, employers have tightened their telework policy to encourage employees to show up at the office.

Twenty-two per cent said they’re now required to work more days in person, while 24 per cent explained that although encouraged, going into the office isn’t an obligation.

More efficient when working remotely?

More than half of survey respondents (61 per cent) claim they work more efficiently from home.

“Teleworking allows for greater flexibility in managing tasks and schedules, and this is reflected in the feeling of performance at work,” said Professor Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay, who collaborated on the annual study. “Moreover, the hybrid formula is highly appreciated by 85 per cent of survey respondents, and 79 per cent believe that it facilitates work-family balance. However, employers are trying to bring employees back to the office, stating that creativity and performance are better in the office than remotely or with online meetings.”

However, the study revealed that teleworking comes with setbacks.

Fifty-two per cent of respondents claimed that teleworking makes it more difficult to disconnect and 49 per cent indicated that they feel less supported by their colleagues concerning their work-life balance needs.

In addition, 45 per cent believe that working from home excludes them from making certain decisions and 39 per cent claim that their career has been negatively impacted due to a lack of presence and visibility.

“Informal networks of influence and power within workplaces may have traditionally favoured men more, while women retain a greater mental burden towards family and domestic responsibilities. This may help explain this gender difference in the perception of the advantages and disadvantages of teleworking,” said Tremblay.

Work-life balance still under pressure

The number of workers who found it difficult to balance work and family time increased from 39 to 43 per cent in 2024. At the end of the pandemic, in 2022, it was 33 per cent.

The data showed that there is also a decrease in the use of work-life balance measures, like vacation and family leave because employees want to conform to workplace expectations. This number has risen from nine to 15 per cent.

“Family-work balance policies are generally designed to meet the needs of parents, and the reality of caregivers in the workplace is often misunderstood, which can contribute to a feeling of stigmatization on their part,” said Corinne Vachon Croteau, executive director of the Réseau pour un-Québec Famille.

Also, one in three caregivers (39 per cent) said they fear having negative impacts on their career if they request time-off and 38 per cent noted that they avoid revealing their situation to their employer for fear of judgment or loss of opportunities at work.

“It is worrying to see that so many caregivers do not dare to talk about their reality to their employer. This shows to what extent it is a taboo that has no reason to exist. With the aging of the population, it is becoming imperative to implement concrete measures to support caregivers. Raising awareness among employers of their needs and the diversity of caregiver situations is the next challenge in balancing family and work,” concluded Croteau.