Canadian HR Reporter

E D I T O R I A L 6 www.hrreporter.com EDITORIAL Editor/Supervisor Sarah Dobson Employment Law Editor Jeffrey R. Smith Labour Relations News Editor John Dujay Production Editor Josh Lewis Contributors Daniel Space Lorenzo Lisi CORPORATE Chief Executive Officer Mike Shipley Chief Operating Officer George Walmsley President Tim Duce Chief Information Officer Colin Chan Human Resources Manager Julia Bookallil ADVERTISING Business Development Manager Fred Crossley (416) 644-8740 ext. 236 fred.crossley@keymedia.com Vice President Sales John Mackenzie PRODUCTION Designer Ace Dequina Production Co-ordinator Ella Dayandante MARKETING AND CIRCULATION NAUK Subscriptions Co-ordinator Donnabel Reyes Media Marketing Manager Charlyn Macaraeg ISSUE 34.09.2021 www.hrreporter.com Will we ever truly return to the traditional office? DID I speak too soon? In my last editorial, I was celebrating our return to the office after many months away. I spoke about looking forward to seeing colleagues again, the community of the workplace, the change of scenery. But now, in mid-October, the great "return to the office" is a little less certain. Yes, we're heading into work for two days per week, but many of my friends are still working from home. Why? For one, all the talk about the potency of the Delta variant and others that may prove even more challenging, such as C.1.2, in recent months have employers staying cautious. Plus, the waning immunization of vaccines has emerged as a potential issue. People who got the jab earlier in 2021 may no longer have the same high levels of immunization. While the vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca were rightfully heralded for their combative powers, these may not last as long as we hoped and could require booster shots. So, employees who got their shots early in the year should not necessarily be in close quarters with others. Then there are employers such as Google, Apple, Amazon and Uber reporting that they plan to postpone a return to the office until 2022. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a "humbling challenge," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said, "The road ahead may be a little longer and bumpier than we hoped." That certainly seems to be the case. First treated as an emergency to be confronted, then anticipated as a months-long ordeal, the COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be an indefinite challenge that might last years, if not becoming a "normal" part of life. What this means for many employers that have existed, if not thrived, with traditional office settings is a conundrum. Many have touted their "flex" policies and remote work success in response to the pandemic, but as return-to-office dates are once again pushed out, will this approach endure well beyond the pandemic? Instead of planning the next quarter or six months, should employers just assume a "return to the office" is not going to happen as they hoped? Sarah Dobson, editor, Canadian HR Reporter group Citing the pandemic as a "humbling challenge," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said, "The road ahead may be longer and bumpier than we hoped." Contents of Canadian HR Reporter are copyright © 2021 Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd and may not be reproduced in whole or part without written consent. Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. HST/GST # 79990 3547 RC-0001 Canada Post – Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement 41261516 International Standard Serial Number 0838-228X. The publishers accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, colour transparencies or other materials. Manuscripts or other materials must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. KEY MEDIA and the KEY MEDIA logo are trademarks of Key Media IP Limited, and used under licence by Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd. Canadian HR Reporter is a trademark of Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd. www.hrreporter.com Subscription price: Canada: $179 plus tax; US and International: $179 USD Canadian HR Reporter makes every effort to ensure accuracy in all items reported, but cannot accept responsibility for the representations or claims made by sources used. It is also not responsible for claims made by its advertisers. HR News at Your Fingertips THE LATEST NEWS Stay on top of essential late-breaking HR news and developments. THE BEST COMMENTARY Access trusted analysis and opinion on the cases and changes that are shaping the HR landscape. REGULAR E-NEWSLETTER Your profession can change quickly, which is why you need the freshest, most recent information. FOR READING ON ANY DEVICE Get the news and opinions you need on any device. Whether you read at work, or on the go, the newsletter adapts to your screen. SCAN TO LEARN MORE CHRR newswire sign up.indd 1 CHRR newswire sign up.indd 1 07/11/2020 2:02:27 pm 07/11/2020 2:02:27 pm

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