A reflection on distance-working away from the cities

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As we continue to live through an unprecedented worldwide crisis, Tremblant Express, as is its wont, seeks to make a positive contribution in view of the serious issues that affect us.

Like the big newspapers, as well as some think tanks such as Nesta, Gartner and others, our journalist Guillaume Vincent touched on the question last month with some of our best real estate agents. They all agreed that the social dynamics in the workplace as we knew it mere months ago appear now to be ancient history for a large part of the population.

In this impulse toward reflection, faced with the unknown, we asked ourselves what impact this would have on our part of the world.

Prior to this crisis, telework – or distance work – was a fairly uncommon social advantage, used sparingly by the most competitive employers. It was often necessary to use diplomacy when convincing the boss to accept teleworking, even for a few days a month, despite many studies demonstrating that among its advantages are happier, more productive and more loyal employees, as well as environmental benefits, etc.

Then along came Covid-19 and a majority of those working before screens had to scramble to learn the basics of telework, as required by social distancing. Let’s be clear: learning to work at a distance during lockdown is like a novice skier taking on the Expo run on the North Side. On the other hand, a Leger survey done at the end of April showed that while 50 per cent of Canadians were teleworking, 79 per cent of them liked the experience!

The new teleworkers were able to adapt. Wooden chairs and the kitchen table were replaced by ergonomic chairs and desks, in-ear headphones were changed for headsets and portable computers were connected to large screens and keyboards.  In fact, many started to recognize the advantages of their new situation.

For some, it was good-bye to alarm clocks, uncomfortable suits and the ridiculous waste of time morning and evening that Statistics Canada sets at 54.6 minutes by car or one and a half hours by public transit, per day, per person, to get to and from Ottawa – Gatineau, which adds up to 18.2 hours and 30 hours per month respectively (five days a week multiplied by four weeks). For Montreal and Toronto, it’s worse!

If by chance this situation continues and teleworking becomes the norm (which Twitter has already decreed for its employees), those who prefer the office towers will have to get used to severe restrictions. But what about here?

Quebec anticipates transferring 5,000 government employees to rural areas, as promised during the last provincial electoral campaign, and has also freed up funds to help our businesses adapt to virtual management. Will we see a number of our residents transform their chalet/condo into their principal residence?

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On the reverse side of the coin, it’s worth remembering that our current residents could probably apply for jobs with organizations having their offices in the big cities, thus gaining career development opportunities that would previously have meant moving.

These opportunities will create improved diversification of the local economy and less dependence on the tourist industry. Some co-work centres are even now ready to provide office spaces that can be rented, such as cowapa.ca, among many others.

The Laurentians have just about everything. Nature is our brand: village life, calmer and more serene, without traffic, where the phrase “quality of life” really means something.

We are counting on our chamber of commerce and our town council to guide us through this new reality.

 

Simon Gascon6 Posts

Cadre supérieur depuis plus d’une décennie, M. Gascon est spécialisé dans la gestion des personnes et du changement en milieu organisationnel. Il est détenteur d’une maîtrise en Administration publique et d’un Diplôme d’Études supérieures spécialisées en Gestion internationale de l’École nationale d’Administration publique et d’un Bacc en Relations industrielles de l’Université de Montréal. Par curiosité et intérêt personnels, il s’est joint à l’équipe Tremblant Express dans le but de contribuer à faire rayonner notre région par ses écrits. / Senior Manager for over a decade, M. Gascon specializes in people and change management in the workplace. He holds a Master in Public Administration and a Superior Study Diploma in International Management from l’École Nationale d’Administration Public, as well as an Industrial Relations Bachelor Degree from Montreal University. Through personal interest and curiosity, he joined Tremblant Express and its team with the objective to promote our region through his publications.

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