More than half (59%) of employee respondents believe that flexible working is the most important benefit when looking for a job, according to research by Totaljobs.
In addition to flexible working, the survey of 1,005 employees and 260 employers found that 54% of employee respondents value a pension as the most important benefit when looking for a job, compared to annual leave above statutory requirements (24%), an annual bonus (23%) and remote or home working options (19%).
The research also found:
- 38% of employer respondents offer remote working options to their employees to help staff manage their work-life balance and 24% offer home working options to reduce staff sick leave.
- 28% of employee respondents would move jobs if they were not allowed to work from home.
- 65% of employee respondents are able to work from home, compared to 35% who are not given the option of being able to work remotely.
- 38% of employee respondents prefer to work from home; 46% of 18 to 34-year-olds would rather work from home, compared to 31% of respondents aged over 55.
- 24% of female employee respondents prefer the choice of working from home or in the office, compared to 16% of male employee respondents.
- 19% of employer respondents feel their staff are more productive and happy when working remotely. 21% of employee respondents agree.
- 12% of employer respondents do not offer remote working options because they find it too difficult to manage their workforce remotely.
Martin Talbot (pictured), group marketing director at Totaljobs, said: “With the UK in the throes of a productivity crisis, now is the time for employers to find ways of addressing this issue. The research finds that many people work best from home, however, many employers don’t trust their team enough to work independently. [Organisations], as well as the wider economy, would benefit from improving embracing remote working.
“Our research also confirms a shift towards remote working, with an increasing number of millennials viewing the option to work remotely as a priority when looking for a new job. With news that 28% of [employees] would change jobs if their current employer did not offer remote working, it is more important than ever for businesses to improve their work from home offering.”
Hi – how can I access the research conducted by Totaljobs? Thanks
Such interesting results! It’s good to see more and more employers offering the possibility to work flexibly, in any kind of shape or form. Especially since there’s an increasing demand for it. It’s a shame though that many employers still don’t trust their employees to work from home or work remotely, especially since it has become a lot easier with today’s technology and digital workspaces like Workspace 365 or Best Place to Work, and since apparently it can do great things for employees’ productivity (and employee retention). I think training is very important here, both for employees to know how to work from home in a good manner and for employers and managers to start learning how to trust their employees and how to monitor if such a policy is actually working.