Workforce WindsorEssex Launches Report Identifying the Benefits of Remote Work in Our Community
New report outlines ways for employers to embrace remote work in Windsor-Essex
For Immediate Release
January 24, 2023
Windsor, ON – Today, Workforce WindsorEssex released a report, Remote Work in Our Community, to recognize the benefits and dispel myths concerning remote work. The report encourages local employers to continue to embrace innovative remote work strategies to benefit both them and workers long-term. The report warns employers that the wrong company policy for your industry could lead to retention and recruitment challenges. This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Based on findings from a recent community survey conducted by Workforce WindsorEssex, approximately 75% of responding local workers felt positive changes since working remotely and 84% noted they would like to continue working remotely. Approximately 73% of respondents said that remote work options would entice them to apply to job postings.
The new report addresses the negative misconceptions that are associated with remote work, such as a reduction in productivity, collaborative work, and workplace culture. This misconception is causing many employers to be unsure of the benefits of remote work and unprepared to offer it long-term. However, several studies have found that employees feel more productive when working from home, which they attribute to a lack of office distractions, zero commute time, and a greater work and life balance. The benefits to employers include: an increase in worker satisfaction (which would lead to an increase in retention), the opportunity to outsource skilled labour that may be lacking in Windsor-Essex, and the ability to hire more workers without increasing office space and overhead costs during business growth.
To embrace remote work, recommendations for employers include: scheduling check-ins to monitor productivity and ensure clear communication, providing employees with the necessary technology in order to be productive from home, and using video-conferencing applications and online resources to improve collaborative work and maintain a strong workplace culture.
According to Statistics Canada, 40% of Canadian jobs can be done from home, and almost six in 10 workers with a bachelor’s degree (59%) can work from home. The number of jobs that could plausibly be worked from home differ depending on the industry. Telework capacity is less than 15% in agriculture and less than 20% in manufacturing, but it ranges from 84% to 85% in finance and insurance, educational services, and professional, scientific, and technical services.
Quotes:
“As we see a growing interest from employees and jobseekers for remote work and work from home employment, employers need to understand how their workforce can grow from these opportunities. Improving onboarding and orientation for remote employees will ensure that employers can benefit from this opportunity to address recruitment and retention challenges.”
- Tashlyn Teskey, Manager of Research Projects, Workforce WindsorEssex
<< Alors que nous constatons un intérêt croissant de la part des employeurs et des demandeurs d’emploi pour le travail à distance et à domicile, les employeurs doivent comprendre comment leur main d’œuvre puisse croître à partir de ces opportunités. L’amélioration de l’orientation et de l’intégration des travailleurs à distance et à domicile assurera que les employés pourront profiter de cette occasion pour relever les défis de recrutement et rétention.>>
- Tashlyn Teskey, Responsible de projets de recherche, Workforce WindsorEssex
“There’s a growing misconception that remote work only benefits employees and it does so at the expense of productivity, but remote work can be just as advantageous for employers. If we can close the gap between what employees want and what employers need, everyone can benefit from a stronger work environment, an increase in job satisfaction, a drop in attrition, and a reduction of overhead costs through a remote work model.”
- Kal Fakhreddin, Local Board Research Associate, Workforce WindsorEssex
<<Il y a une idée fausse croissante selon laquelle le travail à distance ne profite qu’aux employés et qu’il le fait au détriment de la productivité. Par contre le travail à distance peut être tout aussi avantageux pour les employeurs. Si nous pouvons combler l’écart entre ce que les employés veulent et ce dont les employeurs ont besoin, tout le monde peut bénéficier d’un environnement de travail plus solide, d’une augmentation de la satisfaction au travail, d’une baisse de l’attrition et d’une réduction des frais généraux grâce à un modèle de travail à distance.>>
- Kal Fakhreddin, Associée de recherche du conseil local, Workforce WindsorEssex
Quick Links
- View the report at: https://www.workforcewindsoressex.com/remote-work-in-our-community/.
- Workforce WindsorEssex collects local job postings and apprenticeship postings from 55 job boards and employer websites to better understand employer demand for talent and to simplify job search via our innovative job finding tools: Job Board, Job Map, and Career Explorer.
Media Contact:
Lindsey Rivait
Executive Assistant and Researcher
Workforce WindsorEssex
lrivait@workforcewindsoressex.com
About Workforce WindsorEssex
Workforce WindsorEssex is a workforce and community development board whose mission is to lead regional employment and community planning for the development of a strong and sustainable workforce.
Workforce WindsorEssex is an experienced leader in the development of regional labour market tools, research, guides, and events that create positive change in the local labour market while saving others time and effort. These resources, created in close coordination with employment, education, and industry partners, are designed to help jobseekers, employers, students, and educators, as well as the community, make more informed labour market decisions using locally-responsive, data-rich, and unbiased resources. To learn more about Workforce WindsorEssex and view our tools and resources, visit www.workforcewindsoressex.com.
À propos de Workforce WindsorEssex
Workforce WindsorEssex est une organisation à but non-lucratif dont sa mission est de diriger la planification de l’emploi et le développement communautaire avec l’objectif d’assurer une main-d’œuvre solide et durable.
Workforce WindsorEssex est leader expérimenté dans le développement d’outils, de recherches, de guides et d’événements sur le marché du travail créant des changements positifs qui font gagner de l’argent et du temps. Ces ressources, crées en coordination avec les partenaires en emploi, en éducation et en industrie, ont pour but d’aider les demandeurs d’emploi, les employeurs, les élèves, les éducateurs, et la communauté, à prendre des décisions plus informées sur le marché du travail en utilisant des outils impartiaux, riches en données et adaptés aux besoins locaux. Pour apprendre d’avantage de Workforce WindsorEssex, et pour engager avec nos outils et ressources, visitez www.workforcewindsoressex.com.
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