Welland Tribune e-edition

Remote work key in recovery

Many Niagara firms report critical shortage of talent is their No. 1 challenge

PAUL FORSYTH NIAGARA THIS WEEK

Niagara companies for which remote work became a lifeline when the pandemic made it impossible or very difficult for employees to head to the office would be wise to adopt remote and cross-border work as a permanent part of their operations, new research suggests.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC Canada) unveiled a new research report on the phenomenon on Wednesday, commissioned by the Canadian Payroll Association, saying many businesses are coming face-to-face with the critical challenge of recruiting and retaining qualified employees.

Many Niagara companies, such as restaurants and even plastic factories, said they’re having difficulty attracting workers after 20 months of disruptions, shutdowns and COVID-19 restrictions.

PwC said remote work that allowed many companies to continue to operate during the pandemic should be looked at by business and government leaders as a key element in any growth strategy for companies in a post-pandemic economy. That’s especially true for industries where skilled labour is even more difficult to find, such as the technology and financial services sectors, the company said.

“We have now seen that businesses can function and thrive with a remote workforce,” said Michael Dobner, national leader of economics and policy for PwC Canada, in a news release.

“The option of remote and crossborder work as a permanent feature of future human resources strategy has the potential to open up new talent pools — both within Canada and internationally — and make access to work more equitable,” he said.

Dolores Fabiano, executive director of South Niagara Chambers of Commerce, which includes Niagara Falls, Greater Fort Erie, PortColborne Wainfleet and WellandPelham chambers, said many local businesses are desperate for workers.

“We are hearing from many members across all sectors that this is their current No. 1 challenge,” she said. “This is impacting their ability to maintain current levels of service and/or impeding their opportunity to grow and expand.”

She said the shortage is across all sectors. For restaurants and the hospitality sector, many workers have left after long lockdowns and pursued jobs in other fields, meaning eateries that had well-trained staff before the pandemic may be in a far different situation now.

Opting to make remote and crossborder work an ongoing part of their business will require significant and additional administrative work by employers and their payroll teams, but the costs of not engaging in cross-border and remote work arrangements will likely exceed any additional administrative costs, PwC Canada said.

Peter Tzanetakis, president of the Canadian Payroll Association, said remote employment is a “topic of growing interest for every employer in Canada.”

PwC said Canada’s labour shortage has reached “alarming new heights” in recent months, with job vacancies growing by 22 per cent just from May to June.

The company said Canadians were three times more likely to resign from their jobs due to dissatisfaction in June compared to a year ago, and said the challenge of finding enough skilled talent has shown how essential an organization’s people are to its health and success.

Fabiano said employers will have to change their thinking on how to retain and attract talent.

“Thinking that things will go back to the way they were pre-pandemic is unrealistic,” she said. “(Employers) are going to have to create work opportunities that are a little different, and flexibility is going to be key.”

The new report said remote and cross-border work give employers access to a more extensive and a more diverse talent pool, and help to retain and engage current staff because flexible working arrangements are viewed more than ever as a “must-have” for employees.

The study authors said as crossborder work becomes more widely accepted, Canadian workers will have access to more job opportunities without the need to uproot their families.

Fabiano said workplaces need to ensure employees can share, collaborate and create regardless of whether they work from home or the office.

LOCAL

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2021-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://wellandtribune.pressreader.com/article/281621013607925

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