Most of us have long known that life/work balance issues are a priority
for today’s workers, especially the Millennials. However, recently,
Harris Interactive conducted a study for Mom Corps that confirmed the
continuing importance of flexibility. Mom Corps
is a job board and career development site. Their findings offer
insights and trend data, reinforcing the significance of workplace
flexibility as a strategy that benefits both employees and their
organizations.
Nearly three-quarters of working adults polled
(73 percent) agreed that flexibility is one of the most important
factors they consider when looking for a new job or deciding what
company to work for. This score represents a more than 10 percentage
point increase from 2012 (61 percent).
Many employers already
understand the value of helping their workers balance life and work.
More than two thirds (68 percent) of working adults agree that their
company would be willing to accommodate them if they requested a
flexible work schedule, due to reasons like family care, personal work
preferences, health issues, etc.
When asked if they would be
willing to give up a portion of their salary for more flexibility at
work, 45 percent of the working adults surveyed said they would be
willing to relinquish at least some portion of their salary.
While
an increase in the availability of flexible work options is a positive
development, employees still report feeling limited in their personal
ability to gain or use flexible work options. Almost half (47 percent)
of working adults agreed that asking for flexible work options hurts
their chances of advancing in their job. Almost 40 percent agreed that
they have considered leaving or have left a job because it wasn’t
flexible enough. However, the most telling data point is that nearly
four in 10 working professionals surveyed have left or have considered
leaving a job for greater levels of flexibility."
Although this
study was conducted with U.S. employees, workplaces throughout the globe
are undergoing a change from only traditional work hours and workspaces
to an acceptance of a wider variety options. In the future, this will not be optional. Millennials will expect
employers to offer this flexibility without exacting a price.
