[CANADA] A cacophony of screaming beepers and shrieking cell phones might have helped IT professionals ring in
the new millennium last year, but the hours leading up to 2001 are expected to be relatively undemanding
according to an informal survey conducted by workopolis.com, Canada’s job site.
Only 4 percent of respondents say they will be working this New Year’s Eve, a fraction of the 22 percent
who said they either worked or were on call because of Y2K last year. The majority of respondents say
they are planning a quiet New Year’s Eve with family and friends, with only 22 percent expecting to attend
or hold a party. In addition, 9 percent plan to attend a community event or celebration and 8 percent
expect to be alone.
Such peaceful plans, however, are only the calm before the storm. The workopolis.com study indicates
that low-key celebrations will herald a year of transition as almost 90 percent of respondents expect to
make a job change in 2001. The survey also found that 40 percent of respondents feel pressured to make
plans and resolutions for the new year, while 60 percent do not.
Nevertheless, some things never change. When asked “If you could change one thing about your job in
2001” respondents’ answers ranged from flexible hours, shorter commutes and more help from family
members to “bottled sleep”, a maid, and “divide myself in three.”