More than half open to recruiting, employing remote-based talent: Survey
Almost half (40 per cent) of employers in Western Canada had to decrease their workforce because of the pandemic, while 48 per cent kept it the same.
The biggest hits were seen in Alberta (46 per cent) followed by Manitoba (39 per cent), British Columbia and Yukon (37 per cent) and Saskatchewan (32 per cent), finds a survey of 1,622 human resources professionals.
Across the different employment sectors, health care or social assistance saw gains in employment, while oil and gas saw the largest proportion of organizations with a net decrease, followed by construction.
“While almost three-quarters of Western Canada organizations were able to continue all or most of their operations, the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on nearly all of them. That impact, however, varied significantly by industry sector,” says Rod Miller, CPHR Alberta’s president and CEO.
Labour cost reductions
More than two in five (42 per cent) of the western provinces temporarily laid off staff, finds the HR Trends Report done on behalf of CPHR British Columbia & Yukon, CPHR Alberta, CPHR Saskatchewan, and CPHR Manitoba.
"HR professionals have been working night and day to support the rate of change that is taking place in our economy. It's an untold story of the pandemic," says Ron Gauthier, CEO and registrar of CPHR Manitoba.
Canadian HR Reporter has delved into the issues looking at how HR is at forefront in pandemic response.
Other measures to control labour costs, according to the survey, have included:
- encouraging workers to use vacation time (37 per cent)
- a hiring freeze (36 per cent)
- applying for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) 30 per cent)
- a salary freeze (24 per cent)
- reduced hours (23 per cent)
- permanent terminations (22 per cent)
- using provincial government programs or benefits (20 per cent)
Remote work
More than half (58 per cent) of western employers say at least half of their workforce is able to work from home. Just 18 per cent say their entire organization can work from home, compared to 26 per cent who say 75 per cent can do so, and 24 per cent who say less than 25 per cent can do so.
Before the pandemic, 30 per cent of employers say that no remote work was permitted – that’s fallen to three per cent during the pandemic.
After the public health emergency phase? Seven per cent say remote work will not be permitted – but 13 per cent admit they don’t know, finds the survey.
The findings match a PWC survey that found many CFOs say that they will make remote work a permanent option.
During the pandemic, 70 per cent of western employers say they had as many remote employees as possible – that’s expected to fall to 20 per cent once the emergency is over.
Almost three-quarters (71 per cent) of organizations say it’s “very” or “somewhat” likely that they will offer remote work as an option to more employees after next year.
A further 54 per cent say they will be more likely to be open to recruiting and employing remote-based talent, finds the survey.
However, only 12 per cent say they are likely to consider permanently moving the entire workforce to remote or digital work.
Forty per cent of western Canadian organizations have introduced new remote work or flexible work policies, while 35 per cent are considering doing so.
But employers should take note: Having employees work from home doesn’t remove legal considerations.
Business continuity
More than half (57 per cent) of respondents say they had a business continuity plan prior to the pandemic. And those with a business continuity plan prior to the pandemic are significantly more likely to say they’ll be able to continue all or most operations during the pandemic: 78 per cent versus 66 per cent of those without a prior business continuity plan.
Almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of Western employers also say HR has been a key contributor in developing the business plan, finds the survey. And four in five (81 per cent) say it helped their organization in guiding decision-making in reacting to the public health emergency.
COVID-19 presents HR with real-life business continuity exercise like no other, said one expert.
Complete results of the survey for Western Canada can be found here.
