More than half (54 per cent) of Canadians are afraid to return to the workplace given just how contagious the COVID-19 virus is, and six in 10 will refuse to go back if they feel it’s not safe enough, finds a new poll by KPMG in Canada. Still, 82 per cent trust their employer to take and maintain all the necessary health and safety precautions. 

Virtually all Canadians (94 per cent) believe the pandemic is far from over, and 83 per cent say they’re worried about catching the virus or transmitting it to their loved ones. But, as long as the number of COVID cases remain relatively low, as many as 72 per cent of Canadians would be okay going back to their physical workplace, although they believe there will be a second wave of infections in the fall or winter that will shut down workplaces all over again.

The KPMG poll findings show that most Canadians (76 per cent) are satisfied with their work-from-home environment, and almost six in 10 (59 per cent) say they feel more productive.  However, they do feel their relationships with co-workers are suffering. An equal number (59 per cent) say their relationship with their co-workers is weaker in their current work-from-home environment. Seven in 10 (71 per cent) prefer in-person communication over any other form, including email, and 76 per cent say face-to-face in-person meetings are key to successfully building and maintaining long-term business relationships.

When returning to their physical workplace, more than three-quarters (77 per cent) of Canadians said their top concern was that their colleagues might come to work sick or be asymptomatic. Nearly six in 10 (57 per cent) were worried about sharing common spaces like meeting or lunch rooms, and 40 per cent were concerned about the air ventilation and circulation. They were least concerned about having to wear a mask in their workplace and waiting for an elevator.