The appeal of telework is fading, and the return to the office in a hybrid formula is confirmed in the metropolis, to the benefit of downtown merchants, confirms a new sounding from the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM).
In June 2021, in the first of a series of polls dubbed “Back in the towers”, the CCMM reported 28% of respondents who were back in the office, at least part of the week. Since then, this percentage has continued to climb, reaching 68% according to the most recent survey, conducted from March 15 to 28 among 727 employees and managers whose workplace is on the island of Montreal, including The duty obtained a copy ahead of its publication on Friday.
“The results confirm unequivocally that the interest of workers in finding their colleagues, their workspaces and the commercial, food and cultural services of the city center continues”, notes the 33-page document, which specifies that 55% of respondents in the survey conducted by the firm Léger work in downtown Montreal.
However, this return to the office is not full-time for the vast majority of respondents: only 31% of those who have set foot there again since the start of the pandemic “plan to return there five days a week”. Teleworking is therefore still popular, at least on a part-time basis.
A balm for businesses
The growing popularity of a hybrid work formula, which allows employees to go to the office a few days a week, nevertheless benefits businesses in downtown Montreal.
According to Léger’s survey, employees in the sector plan to spend “up to $106 per week, on average”, notably by going to cafes in the morning, to restaurants at lunchtime, as well as in shops and bars in the evening.
This is a similar amount to what employees spent in 2019, when they were present all week in the office, noted CCMM President and CEO Michel Leblanc in an interview with the To have to. “Merchants will find customers who will come less frequently, but who will spend the same thing roughly per week”, analyzes the one who is delighted with the findings of this survey.
Merchants will find customers who will come less frequently, but who will spend the same thing roughly per week
The only downside: we observe that 29% of the workers surveyed “still need to be convinced and reassured” with regard to the safety of public transport in terms of health. “People need to be reassured,” notes the CEO of the CCMM, who sees increased use of buses and the metro in Montreal as a way to counter traffic congestion in the metropolis.