How a Better Workplace Boosts Employee Happiness and Productivity in Canada

Canadian business and employees have seen firsthand the benefits of hybrid and remote work. With 90% of corporate service employees now in permanent hybrid/remote arrangements across the world, work-life balance has become a top priority. Employees who have greater flexibility in their work environment report higher job satisfaction, increased productivity, and stronger overall well-being.

Why Work-Life Balance Matters for Canadian Employees

A well-structured workplace fosters collaboration, productivity, and employee satisfaction. A strong workplace must support socializing, conversation, and focused work to attract high performing hybrid employees. Collaboration allows projects to grow in exciting new directions, affording workers to opportunity to see challenges through new perspectives. Among top quality candidates worldwide, reasons for going into the office include face-to-face interactions (37%), collaboration on projects (36%), connections with coworkers (36%). Informal conversations in hallways or breakrooms can often be beneficial to keeping projects on track and building rapport between departments, and these conversations can’t be had behind a screen.

With rising inflation, 44% of hybrid employees choose to work remotely more often, primarily to save on commuting costs (92%). In a tough economic climate, this becomes a challenge to keep people coming into the office. Improving the workplace experience can boost office visits and strengthen the bonds between co-workers – but the right incentives must be put into place.

Providing perks like healthy food, wellness programs, and remote work benefits significantly enhances workplace satisfaction, and therefore, quality of work delivered. Workers give more effort when they feel taken care of, especially when that feeling is boosted by a sense of belonging. Studies show that employees highly value:

• Free Meals – the most sought-after workplace perk. A well-fed workforce is a satisfied workforce. Likewise, if employees do not have to leave the office area to find sustenance, they lose less time in their overall workday. Employees tasting delicious food will associate those happy feelings with the environment they are in, making them more loyal and more invested in the success of their workplace.
• Wellness benefits – subsidies for gyms, yoga classes, mental health support, etc. The benefits of physical activity cannot be understated for a happy and healthy workforce. Even a short burst of physical activity can improve mental clarity and focus and improved mental health standards mean more productivity and less employee turnover. Once again, we can see that this perk will lead to association with stimuli – if an employer is helping a worker stay healthy, that health becomes associated, and the good feelings translate to good business.
• Flexible work arrangements – improving overall job satisfaction and retention. Gone are the days of 9-5 where a high performer must sit in their chair for 8 hours a day. Flexible, performance-based work can get better results out of a workface, and by giving them the ability to control their day, employers can rest easy knowing their employees are only working when they are “on” and not when they are feeling tired or low. 

To summarize – the company that invests in their employees sees that investment pay off as workers return the favor with a higher quality and quantity of production. Improving the lives of employees means improving the company’s bottom line. A worker cares about the company they feel cares about them. If we look at the work of an employee who is invested in the company’s success versus one who is simply there for the paycheck, the former outperforms the latter every single step of the way. Get the best out of your employees by treating them the best you can!

How Sodexo Canada Supports Employee Well-being

At Sodexo Canada, we understand that a thriving workplace starts with happy employees. Our workplace solutions – from corporate dining and wellness programs to integrated facilities management – help Canadian businesses create an environment where employees can thrive.

Invest in your team’s happiness today – Let Sodexo support your workplace.

Source: YouGov Work Experience Tracker 2023 (online data collection from a combined sample from the following countries: USA (N=894), France (N=756), UK (N=787), Brazil (N=848), India (N=1187) and China (N=1123)