Nearly one-third of small and medium-sized
businesses in Canada are worried that they don't have
the financial means to survive the second wave of
COVID-19, a survey has found. Many employers have
taken measures to adapt to the circumstances created
by the pandemic, found KPMG in polling the owners
of 500 Canadian companies — with $100 million or
less in annual revenue — as new cases of the illness
resurged in Canada in late September.
Nearly two-thirds have explored and adopted digital
and emerging technologies while 44 per cent have
used government assistance measures that were made
available early in the pandemic. One in four have
needed government funds to stay in business.
Although 29 per cent of the business owners saw
an opportunity to grow their businesses during the
pandemic through organic growth or acquisitions, and
30 per cent believed they were better off than their
competitors, many had a grim outlook for their future
if a second wave of COVID-19 forced more restrictions
and closures.
More than eight out of 10 gig economy workers
prefer to be categorized as freelancers rather than
employees or contractors, according to a survey.
Nearly all (97 per cent) believe freelancing is a long-
term choice that will last more than one year and
six in 10 have already been doing it for five years or
more, found online creative services platform Bunny
Studio in polling its user base made up of workers
providing services for hire.
More than half of respondents (57 per cent) said
Pandemic affects motivation, productivity
of workers end the workday
feeling mentally and physically
exhausted more often
find it more difficult to feel
motivated about work
are finding it more difficult to
concentrate
GIG WORKERS PREFER TO BE FREELANCERS
Half of Canadian workers have been able
to focus on their work during the pandemic
with no more difficulty than before,
according to Morneau Shepell. However, a
significant proportion of people are having
trouble with their work compared to last
year, found the online survey of 3,000
people living in Canada who are currently
employed or who were employed within
the prior six months:
SECOND WAVE HITS
SMALL BUSINESSES
their gig work was their primary source of income,
with the 35-to-44 age group having the highest
proportion (65 per cent). The same proportion of
younger adult workers in the 18-to-34 age range as
in the 55-and-older group (60 per cent) relied on
freelancing as their main source of cash flow.
Six out of every 10 respondents say their top
motivation for gig work is either the freedom
to choose their own jobs or flexibility in their
schedule, found Bunny Studio.
50%
22%
29%
EMPLOYER OUTLOOK
MENTAL HEALTH SUFFERS DURING PANDEMIC
54% of
Canadian
employers say
their immediate
focus is survival
24% are
looking to sell
their business
due to higher
costs and more
challenges from
the pandemic
40% worry
they won't
recover from the
economic fallout
of the pandemic
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