It’s time for workers to return to downtown Montreal, according to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM). As part of the launch of an advertising campaign, the organization called on the provincial government on Monday to lead by example by initiating the plan to return its officials to the office.
“Come back and see us, we’re bored,” says the owner of the La Finca café, located not far from the Palais des Congrès.
While new sanitary easing took place on Monday, one element was still missing to the happiness of Marie-Laurence Guindon: the daily return of workers, who made up about 80% of her clientele before the pandemic. Since this summer, she has seen a few familiar faces that make a voluntary stop at the office, but rarely more than once a week.
However, it will take a greater influx of workers to ensure the sustainability of its neighborhood business. “The profitability of a cafe does not matter much. Twenty more people a day makes all the difference at the end of the year, ”says the owner. She points to the cafe across the street, which, unlike hers, had to close.
“We fought to still be there, we want it to be worth it,” she says.
It is to keep the city center and its shops alive, like that of Mme Guindon, that the CCMM is mobilized. “People have to realize how great it is to work downtown,” said President and CEO Michel Leblanc.
Waiting for a signal from Quebec
At the beginning of the fall, the Quebec government postponed the face-to-face return of its employees to an indefinite date, due to the deterioration of the health situation. Many private companies have also retreated. While the number of hospitalizations has stabilized around 300 for about a month and there has been a downward trend in workplace outbreaks in Montreal since September 14, Leblanc believes it is time to restart those plans.
“There, we have companies that have activated supervised return programs, with a distance. There are others that have not started, ”notes Michel Leblanc. According to the latest report The state of the city center, 47% of downtown workers are still exclusively teleworking.
Several companies are waiting for the government to take the first step. “The government is being very silent,” notes Isabelle Pouliot, Executive Vice-President Talent, Culture and Leadership at Pomerleau. A strong message to the effect that we are ready for a face-to-face return, that could help. “
The construction company has a plan to revert to hybrid mode ready to activate if such a signal arrives. For the moment, Pomerleau encourages its employees to come voluntarily to the office, which translates into an average daily traffic of 22% of its downtown staff.
“There are many benefits to leaving home, meeting colleagues, meeting in a space that allows a better separation between personal and professional life,” says Mr.me Pouliot.
“We are awaiting the final public health opinion,” replied the Minister responsible for the Montreal region, Chantal Rouleau, present at the CCMM press conference. “There will be announcements soon, but I can’t tell you more for today,” she added.
Slam the city center
In the meantime, Mme Rouleau supports the House’s advertising campaign, Get a glimpse of each other, in the project context I like to work in the city center, which obtained funding of $ 8.5 million from Quebec. This media offensive uses slam to try to get the attention of young professionals.
“I can feel it, it’s time, time to find yourself, you heart of everything, you in the middle, you downtown”, delivers the artist Antoine Leclerc in a promotional video. “It is time for our lives to be glimpsed, to be glimpsed in your arms,” he continues further.
The minister also insisted on the importance of access to public transit to attract workers. According to her, new tariffs from the Regional Metropolitan Transport Authority which come into force on 1er December will be more suited to the reality of working in hybrid mode. In particular, there are booklets of 10 passages that will allow you to use all modes of public transport in Montreal, Laval and Longueuil.