Initially, office workers were instructed to work from home, leading to the adoption of Microsoft Teams and a more casual dress code.
Later, some employees were asked to return to the office on a part-time basis, requiring them to wear proper attire for Teams meetings in mostly empty offices.
Now, numerous employers in various sectors are mandating a full-time return to the office for many workers.
As more Canadians resume commuting to their workplaces, the question arises: is remote work a thing of the past?
“It’s challenging to see employees prevailing in this situation as the power dynamic heavily favors the employers,” said Opeyemi Akanbi, an assistant professor specializing in communications and work culture.
A shift has occurred from an employee-driven market during the pandemic to one where employers hold more leverage. In July, the Canadian economy experienced a loss of over 40,000 jobs.
“Employees may have to accept policies rather than influence them,” Akanbi noted.
A recent survey indicates that most workers prefer a fully remote or hybrid work setup, while many employers are pushing for increased in-office presence.
Higher Commuting Rates in Canada
A recent report from Statistics Canada suggests a rise in the number of employed Canadians commuting to work for four consecutive years, reaching 82.6% in May 2025, up 1.3 percentage points from May 2024.
On the contrary, the proportion of those predominantly working from home decreased, with hybrid workers spending more time at the workplace than at home.
Survey data from July by the Angus Reid Institute indicates that three in five Canadians prefer mostly remote work, with a majority desiring a flexible work schedule. Half of those required to return to the office more frequently expressed discontent.
Remote work was predominantly a pandemic-driven response rather than a long-term company policy change, according to Akanbi. The current trend reflects a return to the pre-pandemic norm.
- Cross Country Checkup is asking: Should employers be able to force workers back into the office? What is lost when we work from home? Leave your comment here and we may read it or call you back for Sunday’s show
Allison Venditti, a human resources expert and founder of Moms at Work, anticipates ongoing negotiations between larger companies and employees, especially as smaller businesses embrace remote work culture.
“Remote work isn’t obsolete; individuals will demand it,” Venditti affirmed.
Enhancing Productivity and Well-being
The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 prompted a sudden shift in how many Canadians worked, with numerous organizations transitioning employees to remote work. Statistics Canada’s survey revealed a substantial increase in remote work
