The Rise of the Remote Worker in 2015

By News on the Net —— Bio and Archives January 13, 2015

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TORONTO—As we embark on a new year, Canadians are seeing a rise in remote workers and flexible working. With more and more people opting for a more flexible work environment, the latest research by global workspace provider, Regus, found that 76 per cent of Canadians have seen a greater increase in flexible working compared to five years ago.

This is higher than the global average of 70 per cent, however lower than the US workforce with 80 per cent of respondents saying they have seen an increase in remote workers in their workplace. The report surveyed 22,000 workers across more than 100 countries. Company size and industry plays a major role in whether Canadian employees have the opportunity to work remotely and flexibly. The survey found: COMPANY SIZE

• Small businesses with 0-49 employees are the most likely to have remote workers at 81% noticing an increase in the past five years;
• Mid-sized companies (50-250 employees) are less likely to work outside of the office at 73% saying they saw an increase;
• Companies with 250+ employees are least likely at 69%