ADP Canada continues to explore the effects of COVID-19 on Canadian workplaces through its Workplace Insights survey series. The final survey of the series examines workers’ loyalty to their employers, operational impacts, and the return to physical workplaces, following past surveys on employee health and safety, employer readiness and response, and the pandemic’s impact on remote workers.

Conducted by Angus Reid on behalf of ADP Canada, the survey found most working Canadians remain loyal to their employers, with nearly one-third (28%) saying their loyalty has increased because of their company’s response to COVID-19. Interestingly, women, were more likely to cite increased loyalty towards their employer than men (33% of women vs 23% of men).

Loyalty to employers also remains strong among unemployed Canadians, with nearly half (47%) of those respondents who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 anticipating returning to work with their previous employers.

Workplace Operations

Employees surveyed also reported tangible impacts on workplace operations. While employees believe that the pandemic has caused many workplaces to increase access to new technology (38%) and health and safety measures (74%), many employees also reported seeing an increase in their workloads (46%).

Not surprisingly, almost all healthcare workers reported their employer has increased health and safety measures and their job responsibilities have increased. Workers in construction and trades were most likely to say their company’s revenue has decreased due to COVID-19. This sector also reported significant increases in health and safety measures – a key finding from one of the first industries authorized to resume operations. Meanwhile, three in five education workers reported a significant increase in job responsibilities, as well as access to new technology.

Returning to the Workplace

COVID-19’s impact on loyalty to employers and workplace operations may have influenced how employees feel about returning to their workplaces. While approximately one third of those surveyed are looking forward to returning to the office, 21 per cent say they are not ready to go back to their place of work. These feelings were particularly common among women, with 29 per cent reporting they are not ready to return, compared to 14 per cent of men.

In addition, 11 per cent say that while they are ready to return to the workplace, they are not confident their employer will have the proper measures in place to protect their safety.