Adjusted work hours, casual dress code also popular
One-half of working Canadians (53 per cent) said the option to work from home would help ease their transition into the work year after the summer. Another 29 per cent of 1,291 respondents surveyed by Workopolis said adjusted working hours would help keep them happier at work long after the summer season ends and 10 per cent thought a more casual dress code would ease the post-summer return to work.
"(Fall is) a transitional time which can impact — positively or negatively — the attitudes (employees) have towards their current employers," said Andrea Garson, vice-president of HR at Workopolis. “The modifications some businesses make during the summer play an important role in job satisfaction and, for employers, this a good time of year to regroup with employees to refocus them on their goals and take a temperature read of their motivation levels."
When it comes to a good work environment, the opportunity to develop new skills was the most important factor cited (24 per cent) followed by a manageable stress level (23 per cent) and a supportive work network (19 per cent), according to a separate study of more than 1,000 working Canadians by Workopolis.
Workers feel most valued or appreciated on the job with positive feedback from their manager (40 per cent), though a monetary bonus would also help (31 per cent).
Employers will want to get both of these right, according to another poll by Workopolis of more than 700 working Canadians. A desire for a better working environment and not feeling valued or appreciated at work are the two most common reasons employees consider changing jobs (33 and 30 per cent respectively).
Work-life balance is also important to Canadians — 27 per cent want to leave their work at work and be able to focus on family and friends after hours. Not getting a promotion or limited career opportunities was the reason 24 per cent of respondents would look for a new job while 19 per cent of respondents began looking for their newest job when they didn't receive a raise.
