Remote work positive for city, staff, report finds

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This article was published 15/09/2023 (776 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

About 1,550 City of Winnipeg employees continue to work from home, which their managers say is saving money without sacrificing productivity.

However, some members of city council question if remote workers are really as productive at home as they could be at the office.

About 1,800 municipal employees worked remotely at least part time in 2020 and 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2022, the city introduced a flexible workplace program, which now includes about 1,550 staff or 15 per cent of the city’s 10,400 employees, according to a new public service report.

The report credits the program with several benefits.

“The city has seen improved efficiencies, cost savings, improved connectivity and high engagement from staff in the program,” writes Angie Cusson, the city’s director of human resource services.

The report notes 1,275 of the employees who work remotely do so on a part-time basis, while 275 do so on a full-time basis. It suggests employee engagement, collaboration, performance, productivity and staff retention have all been maintained or increased under the program.

Work-from-home agreements reduce the need for travel, which can spare extra time for work and reduce road congestion, the report states. It also links the related reliance on digital technology with saving the city about $119,000 per year on paper and printing.

The city’s chief administrative officer described the flexible workplace program as a key way to attract and retain staff during a widespread labour shortage.

“What we have experienced, at least in the last year and a bit with this program, every data point that we could point to does seem to be pretty positive, especially in terms of employee satisfaction,” Michael Jack said in an interview.

An employee survey found 92 per cent of city staff wanted the flexible workplace program to continue and 91 per cent said the option to work remotely directly impacts their choice of employer.

“Removing the flexible workplace option could lead to dissatisfaction, lower morale, an increase in turnover and employees actively looking for work in other organizations that offer this flexibility,” Cusson writes.

A survey of city bosses with employees who work remotely found 91 per cent haven’t noticed a reduction in productivity with flexible work, 40 per cent noticed an increase in productivity and 96 per cent felt customers’ needs are still met.

The report does not note the sample size or margin of error for the city surveys.

There have been some exceptions, with the flexible work agreements for at least nine employees ended by the staff member or their boss since the program started, according to the report.

Coun. Evan Duncan said his office received complaints from residents who were unable to reach some planning and development staff, or received slow service, which was linked to remote work. Several staff will soon be required to return to the office for in-person scheduled appointments as a result, he said.

“The public service is here to serve the public. There’s something to be said about being on the front line and available to the public,” he said.

Duncan believes the number of work-from-home days employees are allowed to take should at least be capped to a maximum number to help maintain service levels.

“The pandemic is now over and folks need to get back to work,” he said.

Jack said about a dozen staff have been required to return to the office in the property and development department over productivity concerns, which he believes is separate from the nine employee agreements mentioned in the report.

The fact some work-from-home arrangements have ended shows productivity is carefully monitored, he said.

“All of my senior management team acknowledges and understands that delivering the service is priority one,” said Jack.

Employee oversight will continue to be a focus no matter where staff are located, he stressed.

“Management doesn’t work by standing down the hall and staring at the employee all day during their work day. Whether the employee is down the hallway or off in Charleswood or Transcona at their home office, I need proper processes in place so that we can ensure we are getting productivity,” he said.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he would prefer to see city employees return to the office and questioned how the public service can be sure productivity has not declined.

“I want assurance and the data to show it that the citizens of Winnipeg are getting the service that they deserve,” said Gillingham.

The mayor stopped short of calling for specific changes to the program.

“I do recognize that, post-COVID, our work world has changed, that to be an employer of choice we may need to be offering a flexible workplace program,” he said.

The city expects remote work to have little impact on the amount of office space it requires, though one lease at 495 Portage Ave. will be reduced. Winnipeg Parking Authority staff are set to move from that site to the former Grace Café and other offices within the Susan A. Thompson building.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga