Almost one-third (31%) of UK employees are not provided the opportunity for flexible working arrangements by their employers, according to research conducted by Flexioffices.
The study of 2,000 UK employees found that 15% would consider leaving their role if a flexible working option was taken away from them.
Of the 69% of UK employees that do have flexible working policies within their organisations, 39% said they enjoy work more because of it, 36% agreed that they are less stressed, 34% stated that they are more productive, and 32% noted that their employer provides good perks.
The ability to spend time with families was a popular outcome of flexible working according to participants, with one-third (32%) stating this, while 29% noted that alternative working structures have helped save them money. Additionally, one in five (21%) felt more active, 20% have saved time and felt healthier, while 19% felt they have a better social life.
Cities that have the highest occurrence of flexible working are Edinburgh (41%), Leeds (35%), Liverpool (34%), and London (33%). The cities with the lowest number of employees able to work flexibly are Glasgow and Newcastle with 23% each.
Michael Dubicki, business director at Flexioffices, said: “Our research indicates it’s time for employers to re-think how they approach remote working and for a lot of companies this will mean a culture change. We take a person-centred approach when working with our partners to find their perfect working environment. We believe providing appropriate perks is a great way to show your team you value them.”
Zoë Morris, president at Mason Frank International, added: “Our opinion of what a good work-life balance looks like has changed a lot in the past few years. Job seekers today are striving for greater freedom to fit work around other priorities, often prioritising these kinds of perks over higher salaries.
“There are so many reasons why employers should consider offering flexible working and attracting and retaining great talent is just one of them. It can also play a massive part in making today’s workplaces more diverse and inclusive.”