The pandemic and the impact on working arrangements: From research insights to practical tips

Hosted by:  Ontario Chamber of Commerce

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced our work and home lives to collide, fundamentally changing forever how companies view flexible work arrangements such as work from home (or work from wherever) and has shined a light on opportunities and benefits around flexible hours, four-day workweeks, and job sharing. It has also had uneven effects on different segments of the population - generally high skilled and higher-income groups have fared relatively well while the gaps with lower-skilled and lower income Canadians have widened.

While flexible working arrangements are not new, the pandemic has forced large-scale adoption and necessity has eroded at least some of the historic resistance. Flexible work arrangements can help level the playing field for women, whose careers are often penalized when family care prevents them from spending as many hours on paid employment as their male colleagues. It can also provide more opportunities for persons with disabilities who have often identified flexible work and the ability to work at home as key accommodations. Research shows that industries with more flexible working arrangements tend to have lower gender pay gaps because women can upskill more easily. Further, countries with more women working from home tend to exhibit higher employment rates among mothers.

A recent survey conducted by the Environics Institute for Survey Research, in partnership with the Future Skills Centre and the Diversity Institute reveals the impacts the pandemic has had on pre-existing barriers to workforce advancement and widening the skills and labour gap. Join us on Thursday, March 18th to learn more about this data from Dr. Andrew Parkin, Executive Director at the Environics Institute. Learn how Canadian men and women and diverse groups have been affected by, and are coping with, the disruptions caused by the pandemic through their experience of working from home.

Following his presentation, we are delighted to host an exciting panel conversation on what this means for the future of work and the implications for skills both among employees and managers.