Image Credit: Pixabay

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, so too did the shift to working from home, but companies appear to be reaching a compromise in the Okanagan.

With technology advanced enough to make connecting from a distance as easy as ever, along with the proliferation of co-working spaces, tech workers in the Okanagan may not be heading back to the office yet.

"It doesn't seem like anyone is asking people to come back in to the office full-time," Accelerate Okanagan CEO Brea Lake said. "At Accelerate Okanagan, we're starting to have team members come in two days a week, but a lot of companies have given up their office space. That's a big testament to their willingness to make the move."

READ MORE: Half of Canadians say their mental health is worse two years into pandemic: survey

Accelerate Okanagan is a non-profit that offers mentorship and support to entrepreneurs and start ups in the Okanagan, and they also offer co-work spaces in both Kelowna and Vernon.

Lake said the co-work spaces in Kelowna were often full before the pandemic, but at that time it was often freelancers and people who work alone that booked desks. Once the pandemic began, it became a valuable space for companies looking to book space for their workers.

Whether it was a need for workers to break up their time while working from home, or companies looking for staff to get some face time, the demand hasn't slowed.

Lake said both its Kelowna and Vernon co-work spaces are going to expand from 50% capacity to using all the desks, along with separate meeting rooms, and Accelerate Okanagan has a waitlist of companies and workers that want to use those spaces.

READ MORE: Fundraiser for family of slain Kelowna security guard reaches $75,000

Employment surveys in 2021 suggest Canadian workers are looking for flexibility with their employers, but the consensus to keep working from home a standard is not so broad.

Last May, KPMG published a study showing 77% of respondents preferred to move into a hybrid system, where employees would only return to the office periodically.

However, an Ipsos poll published in December 2021 suggested half of working Canadians can see themselves returning to the office regularly.

While the future of office work appears to be unclear, Lake says she's heard strong support for hybrid working models from Okanagan tech companies.

READ MORE: 'Get a hobby,' B.C. premier tells those considering protesting COVID-19 mandates

Workers in larger city centres, like Metro Vancouver, may be more reluctant to return to their commutes, but Lake believes the resistance to return to the office on a full-time basis in the Okanagan comes from its outdoor amenities.

"In the Okanagan, people like the benefits of working from home so they can enjoy the outdoors and go for walks on their breaks," she said.

While it may be too soon to predict where the future of work may lead, even in the tech industry, Lake suspects that as COVID restrictions continue to wane, workers will see benefits in spending time in person with other colleagues again.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2022