Two-fifths (40%) of part-time workers would leave the workforce entirely if they were required to commute long distances daily, according to research by International Workplace Group.
Its survey of 2,000 UK part-time workers also found 44% of former part-time workers are actively considering rejoining the workforce, provided they can work in a hybrid pattern or have some other form of workplace flexibility.
Almost half (49%) of current part-time workers would consider leaving employment altogether if they were denied flexible working, and 31% of those required to commute to the office every working day are already looking for new roles.
More than half (55%) would quit their current role if they had to travel long distances during their working week, while the same proportion would return to work if they had flexibility in their working patterns.
Just under three-fifths (57%) said working more locally from flexible workspaces would make returning to the office more appealing, while 63% would consider boosting their hours if they could work more flexibly.
Two-fifths (41%) of former part-time workers said the cost of commuting had deterred them from returning to work, and 44% of current part-time workers said the rising cost of commuting was making it harder to financially justify staying in work.
Despite this, 45% of older workers said part-time work had allowed them to delay their retirement and is an attractive option for staying engaged in the workforce.
Mark Dixon, chief executive officer of International Workplace Group, said: “High commuting costs combined with limited flexibility are a challenge for many part-time workers. By offering greater flexibility over how and where work is done, businesses can not only retain these valuable team members but also attract talented individuals back into the workforce. Given that part-time workers represent a quarter of the UK labour market, their impact on overall productivity is substantial.”
