*This blog post was last updated by our HR experts on August 21, 2026, to reflect our latest free downloads and webinar resources.
Remote talent acquisition: Tips from our HR experts
Talent acquisition has always been an area where organizations invest significant time and effort. Having an effective talent acquisition strategy helps you hire employees who are the best fit for the company and ensures they stay long-term. With the large-scale shift toward remote work, many organizations are looking to change their strategies. What are the best practices for remote talent acquisition?
Workplace flexibility is the key to an effective remote talent acquisition strategy
Many organizations see benefits and perks as important for attracting and retaining candidates. While health, dental, and paid time off are expected benefits, a lot of attention is now being given to improving work–life balance, with the spotlight on flexibility in the new workplace model.
Leaders need to understand that candidates have flexibility near the top of their job wish list. A study by ManpowerGroup Solutions found that nearly 40 percent of job seekers said flexibility in their work schedule is one of their top three factors when deciding on a career.
Flexible work arrangements are what job seekers want now, more than ever
Gone are the punch-clock nine-to-five office days. Workplace flexibility has changed from a perk to a necessity for many job seekers. If organizations want to attract and land top-skilled workers, flexibility is no longer optional. The stereotype that it’s just working mothers seeking such arrangements is long outdated; everyone is interested now—and some are demanding at least partial blending of office and remote work, if not fully remote, if they choose to join an organization.
What is talent acquisition? Understanding what employees want
Organizations must also consider what current employees want. Apple CEO Tim Cook sent a memo to all employees asking most of them to return to the office three days each week. The request didn’t go over well. Workers pushed back in protest, saying over the past year they have “often felt not just unheard, but at times actively ignored.” They want a more flexible approach that allows those who want to work remotely to do so.
A Bloomberg News poll from May 2021 showed 39 percent of employees would consider quitting their job if employers weren’t flexible about remote work. That number soared to 49 percent among Millennial and Gen Z workers. That’s a huge eye-opener. Also note that flexibility here doesn’t simply mean wanting to work from home. While that is top of mind these days for many potential employees, other areas where flexibility is desirable include start or finish times to the workday, shift work, break and lunch times, and caregiving needs.
Remote talent acquisition: Return to office vs. flexible work arrangements
Returning to the office as we knew it pre-2020 is probably impossible. The only path is forward, even if it’s uncertain. However, organizations can be certain of the growing pressure to be flexible from both current staff and candidates. How do you want to be perceived regarding workplace flexibility? What image do you want to present to potential employees?
Without a willingness to be accommodating, organizations may soon find themselves with diminishing staff and reduced access to an already tight labour market to fill any new positions. Top talent will move on to a company willing to be more flexible with its workplace structure.
Download this new hire toolkit from our hiring experts for more great insights
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And check out these other comprehensive HR blogposts from this series:
- Employee Onboarding – Mastering Remote HR Management
- Offboarding Employees – Mastering Remote HR Management in Canada
- Learning and Development – Mastering Remote HR Management in Canada
- Employee Engagement – Mastering Remote HR Management in Canada
Stop top talent from scrolling past your job posting over a few hours of flex-time
Our innovative, award-winning software and unlimited live advice services have simplified the onboarding for over 6,500 Canadian businesses. With so many Canadians still working from home and many likely to request flexible work options for the foreseeable future, companies looking to improve talent acquisition can no longer ignore the trend, and many have started adapting their processes accordingly.
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