Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, North American business leaders have been answering surveys offered by executive search firm Caldwell on the projected road to recovery. 

"These calls started 15 weeks ago as a weekly opportunity for Canadian chief human resources officers to share experiences and discern best practices in the face of unprecedented and rapidly changing circumstances," Les Gombik, call leader and a managing partner at Caldwell, said in a news release.  

The calls have evolved into a weekly leadership forum attended by board directors, chief executive officers and C-suite executives across North America, Gombik said.

Topics include planning for the future with uncertain timelines, how boards can support management teams in challenging times such as this and "the ways in which work as we know it is evolving," Gombik said.

Surveys have highlighted business operations, board concerns, talent, remote work ethics, and business travel and gathering. Participants have also shared positive responses in workflow from those who are now working remotely, with over 91% supporting the change. 

Nearly two-thirds of participants shared that they are not yet hiring new team members or bringing back furloughed employees at the moment with three quarters saying they are comfortable with the employees they have available. 

Nearly all the participants - 91% -  agreed that they would only feel comfortable with business travel and large events when a vaccine is available.