The evolving remote work policies unique to each company have become a crucial factor in attracting and retaining employees in the current job market. Work-from-home arrangements, which were not previously a focal point in candidate search criteria, have now emerged as one of the top three considerations when evaluating a new opportunity. This article explores how these policies are impacting candidate behavior, the challenges faced by companies with less flexible work arrangements, and the growing preference for remote work options in the Toronto market.

Evolving Candidate Requirements
Historically, job seekers considered factors such as the position's attractiveness, company culture, compensation, and commuting distance when changing jobs. However, the pandemic-induced shift to remote work has elevated the importance of work-from-home policies. The percentage of remote work relative to in-office work has become one of the top three factors candidates consider when evaluating new opportunities.

Changing Candidate Behaviour
The increased significance of work-from-home policies has fundamentally altered job seekers' behavior, posing significant challenges for companies with less flexible or more in-office-focused policies. For instance, companies that require employees to work from the office more than three days per week face a disadvantage when recruiting, compared to similar roles offered by companies with more flexible policies.

Return to Office + Strong Job Market
Larger companies are now requesting employees to work from the office more frequently, which contradicts the backdrop of a strong job market. This collision has resulted in a segment of job seekers who prioritize opportunities with fewer in-office requirements. Striking a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work is crucial for employers, as an imbalance may prompt some employees to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

Remote Work Options
In addition to these challenges, employers in the Toronto market face pressure from companies across Canada and the US that offer fully remote positions. Tech sector giants like Google, Amazon, and Uber are hiring finance professionals from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) for their global workforce. This intensifies the competition for hiring CPAs and further complicates the hiring landscape.

Flexibility Preferred
While some employers still require staff to have a physical office presence, the level of flexibility and specific days for in-office work significantly influence employee perception. Although the traditional Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday pattern is popular among employers embracing a three-day work week, employees prefer the flexibility to set their own schedules and work from the office on days of their choosing. Most candidates appreciate having an "anchor day" where their immediate team collaborates in person, but they highly value the option to vary their in-office days based on personal commitments.

"Candidates prioritize flexibility and remote work policies that allow more than 50% of workdays to be spent outside of the office, mainly to avoid commuting and enable work from home or while traveling." (Bill McNeil).

Conclusions
The requirement for full-time, in-office work five days a week is the primary obstacle for attracting and retaining candidates in the post-Covid era. Some employers have reverted to pre-pandemic work schedules, deviating from the market trend of adopting hybrid work arrangements. As a result, these employers face challenges in hiring, with positions remaining open for longer periods. To compete effectively in the current market, it is essential for companies to offer attractive working arrangements that align with the preferences of job seekers.