According to a survey from Get Working, a product by software firm Foko Retail, 40% of Canadian business leaders believe their employees want to return to the workplace.

Additionally, 37% of respondents said they expect their employees to be back in their physical offices by the first half of 2021. On the other hand, 79% said that flexibility will be integrated in their company’s operations.

“We know businesses will transition to flexible working permanently and that the use of workspace needs to be properly documented for contact tracing purposes. We also know there is a need to remotely test employees before they even enter the office,” said Marc Gingras, CEO of Foko Retail. “The question is how do companies manage capacity, contact tracing, and health and safety in a meaningful way that supports the needs of workers and employers alike.”

The research found that 79% of respondents have expressed anxiety about coming back into the workplace. According to the survey, convincing employees that it is safe to return to work and implementing physical distancing were the most difficult procedures to accomplish.

Overall, it is clear that business leaders need to prioritize the health and safety of workers before bringing them back into the workplace, as well as clearly communicate how they will actually do so. This should include discouraging those who are sick from coming in, promoting distancing and sanitation practices and modifying the workplace that makes it easier for employees or clients to limit exposure.