Two Metro Vancouver cities not named Vancouver were just bestowed two of the best commuter towns for hybrid work in all of Canada.
International Workplace Group (IWG), a leader of flexible workplace solutions which operates in over 120 countries, put the list together.
Burnaby received top honours as the top spot for hybrid workers to live in Canada, while Richmond was ranked #3, as part of IWG’s Commuter Town Index.
IWG says that lengthy commutes are “falling out of favour,” and based on its research, says that only four per cent of workers globally are willing to commute for more than an hour to work daily.
The report adds that younger workers are leading the shift, with 75 per cent of millennials and 72 per cent of Gen Z willing to live further from city centres if coworking spaces or good transport links are available.
Hamilton took the #2 spot, while Coquitlam ranked #7, and Surrey and Port Moody both tied for #10.
“Burnaby scored so highly due to its exceptional transport connectivity proximity to the city centre, its many lifestyle amenities, and access to flexible workspaces. The town is an example of a central location with multi-line rapid transit access via the SkyTrain, a pedestrian-friendly core, strong digital infrastructure and a thriving local economy – making it particularly well-suited to hybrid workers seeking balance without sacrificing career opportunities,” IWG states.
Looking at hybrid working overall, IWG says that in a report of 1,000 hybrid workers, 52 per cent reported an improvement to their overall mood, 53 per cent reported better sleep, and 45 per cent had more energy.
A separate Canadian study revealed that 79 per cent of hybrid workers said stress levels were reduced thanks to spending less time on long daily commutes. Additionally, 44 per cent reported that they took fewer sick days.
“The idea that every morning, office workers wake early, jump into polluting cars or overcrowded trains, and travel many miles to their place of work will very soon be a crazy thing people only did in the past,” says Mark Dixon, IWG CEO and founder.
“Hybrid working improves our lives. And it makes us significantly better off, too.”
If you’re a hybrid worker in Metro Vancouver, do you find that it’s better for your mental health than non-hybrid work?