Many Canadian workers paying “COVID-19 Tax” while working from home: survey
Published May 13, 2021 at 1:53 am
Have you found yourself working more since the onset of the pandemic?
A recent survey from ADP Canada and Angus Reid found that many Canadian workers, especially those working remotely, are paying a “COVID-19 Tax” in the form of working longer hours.
According to the findings, this “tax” is affecting 30 per cent of Canadian workers and 44 per cent of remote workers.
Of those working longer hours, 10 per cent reported working a full extra day per week—eight or more hours.
Comparatively, 38 per cent reported no change to their hours, while 15 per cent said they were working less since the start of the pandemic.
Additionally, many of those working from home are reporting feeling less motivated—46 per cent of respondents working remotely reported feeling less engaged with their job.
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“By encouraging employees to take vacation time and regular breaks, to monitor their stress levels and seek support if needed, and by introducing policies for after-hours work or educating on the right to disconnect, employers can help protect the physical and mental health of employees,” Ed Yuen, vice-president of Strategy and Business Development for ADP Canada, said in a news release.
However, while some employees are feeling less motivated, others are feeling more valued, as 53 per cent of Canadians said their employer has allowed them to work a modified schedule when they must take care of personal responsibilities during work hours.
“After a year of monitoring how workplaces have evolved and responded to the pandemic, it appears that many companies have moved to flexible work hours or hybrid work models,” Yuen said.
“While many of these policies were a ‘perk’ a few months back, they are now commonplace. For some, this flexibility seems to have improved productivity and quality of work. Not only has the pandemic brought the workplace into Canadians’ homes, but it also brought a little bit of their homes to the workplace,” he added.
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