After almost two years of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Canadian employers are finally welcoming their employees back to their workplaces.
The coronavirus continues to ebb across the country – a further two cases of the new Omicron variant have been detected in Ottawa, increasing the total number of cases in the country – but the high vaccination rate is prompting businesses to reopen their buildings and plan for an eventual return to normal.
While a lot remains unknown about this variant, which the World Health Organization has flagged as a variant of concern, Wells Fargo analysts believe that Omicron is a hiccup in the broader plans to get employees back into their offices.
Most, however, are adopting hybrid work arrangements.
As of Nov. 26th, 75.5 percent of Canada’s total population has been fully vaccinated, while 86 percent of the population 12 and older has received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, according to the Canadian Government.
Employers and employees prefer to split work between home and the office
The success of remote work has changed not only where the corporate work gets done but also how it gets done.
PwC’s second survey into attitudes about remote work, conducted in January of 2021, has found that U.S. executives and employees are approaching a post-pandemic future with a lot more flexibility.
That said, few are prepared to abandon the office space completely.
Findings from the survey have shown that 83 percent of employers think that the shift to remote work has been successful for their company, compared to 73 percent in the company’s June 2020 survey.
Over half of employees (55 percent) would prefer to work remotely at least three days a week when the COVID-19 pandemic ends, according to PwC.
This attitude is more or less in line with the sentiments of Canadian workers. Around 80 percent of workers in Canada would prefer to work at least half of their hours from home once the pandemic worries recede, according to Statistics Canada.
Technology facilitates employees’ return to the office
Organizations and event organizers have a range of solutions at their disposal to safeguard the wellbeing of their employees, visitors and partners – without compromising business continuity.
Here are six of these solutions that are gaining traction among enterprises seeking seamless tools as they welcome their employees back into the office:
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Contactless entry and exit enable employees and visitors to enter and leave the building by scanning a code on their phones. This type of technology is growing in popularity. It can be used in public washrooms, elevators, and meeting rooms to prevent people from touching door handles and other possibly contaminated surfaces.
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Visitor management reduces external threats with instant visitor check-in while keeping every individual’s information confidential.
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Wellness screening ensures that all entrants have passed an automatic temperature screening, mask detection and wellness screening questionnaire.
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Vaccine verification lets organizations comply with vaccine mandates by ensuring all employees and visitors are fully vaccinated.
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Crowd monitoring helps companies create a positive visitor experience with solutions that detect possible risks before they intensify and eliminate concerns over employee safety.
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People counting and capacity management empowers companies to contain crowd size in compliance with enforced restrictions by managing the number of people entering their facilities.
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Wrap-up: Companies and employees are harnessing technology to re-imagine office space
As vaccination rates remain high, a growing number of organizations are planning a gradual return to the office, but it’s unlikely that employees will return to their workplace full-time.
Most employers and employees are pushing for a hybrid work arrangement after companies have realized that the shift to remote work hasn’t had a negative impact on productivity.
Thanks to cutting-edge technology solutions, organizations are able to safely welcome their employees back to the office in the capacity that suits them and their teams.
This means that employers and employees are empowered to re-imagine work on their terms – and redefine the role offices play in creating a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
EAIGLE is passionate about delivering solutions that help companies provide a safe and productive environment for their employees. Let us know about your needs at contact@eaigle.com and learn how your organization can implement state-of-the-art solutions that prevent the spread of COVID-19 while driving revenue and powering growth.