Employed residents of the province expect fewer in-person staff meetings and business travel once COVID-19 is over.
Vancouver, BC [March 23, 2021] – A significant proportion of British Columbians who have had to work from home in the past year expect to be able to continue doing so after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative sample, 54% of employed British Columbians say they have worked from home during the pandemic, including 63% of those aged 18-to-34 and 59% of those who reside in Metro Vancouver.
More than two-in-five employed British Columbians foresee fewer in-person staff meetings (47%), less business travel (44%) and a reduction of in-person business development meetings (43%) at their workplace once the pandemic ends.
Conversely, employed British Columbians believe their companies will see an increase in virtual staff meetings (50%), virtual business development (47%) and virtual communications between offices (46%) after COVID-19.
One third of British Columbians who have worked from home (33%) believe they will be able to keep doing it once or twice a week when the pandemic ends, while 18% foresee working from home three for four times a week and 20% believe they will be able to do so five days a week.
“Only 10% of British Columbians who have worked from home in the past year believe their post-COVID arrangements will not include any days at the home office,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “This includes 14% of those aged 55 and over and 20% of those who reside in Northern BC.”
Only a third of British Columbians who have worked from home have been informed by their company about two post-pandemic plans: how employees will return to the office (32%) and how employees will be able to work from home (also 32%).
Practically half of employed British Columbians who have worked from home (49%) say they are “very likely” or “moderately likely” to seek a different job if their current company does not allow them to work from home as often as they want—including 52% of men and 56% of those aged 18-to-34.
In addition, majorities of employed British Columbians who have worked from home would consider switching to different jobs that can be performed from home in their own metropolitan area (56%) or province (54%). Two-in-five (39%) would consider reporting to a company located in a different province, if they can perform their duties from home.
Methodology:
Results are based on an online study conducted on March 8 and March 9, 2021, among 700 adults who work in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.7 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Find our data tables here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca