How is your business adapting to employee preference for hybrid and flexible working?
How is your business adapting to employee preference for hybrid and flexible working?
On average 95% of candidates seeking new positions place a huge importance on flexible working arrangements.
In today’s competitive job market, achieving a healthy work-life balance is a top priority for talented individuals when making career decisions. As a recruitment group (TMRG), we have discussed this with all current candidates and 95% of the talent pool desire to remain working at least hybrid.
Flexible Working Arrangements
Flexible working is no longer a perk, it is a priority. Since lockdown the employee requirements for this option have become the norm – even though many employers have tried to bring their employees back to the office, it has largely been unsuccessful.
Recent surveys in the UK reveal that 72% employees consider flexible working patterns important when considering new roles, with 69% valuing the ability to work remotely.
These statistics underscore the critical role flexibility plays in attracting and retaining top talent.
By integrating flexible working options into your culture and clearly communicating them through your employer branding, you will position your organisation as a forward-thinking and employee-focussed workplace. This approach not only meets the evolving expectations of today’s workforce but also enhances your competitiveness in the talent market.
Here is a breakdown of what TMRG candidates are prioritising during the recruitment process:
Flexibility
A flexible working arrangement gives a degree of flexibility on how long, where, when and at what times employees work. Employees have the autonomy to choose their start and finish times, provided they meet core operational requirements. This also includes offering part-time, job share or career breaks
Hybrid
Hybrid working offers a combination of working both remotely and onsite in an offering of a 3/2 or 2/3 – we have worked with many clients who offer these options. When speaking with our candidates, employees who currently do not have flexibility or hybrid options would look for another job based on these factors alone.
Employers who embracing employees working where and when they are most productive, creates their ideal work/life balance and thereby improves employees overall job satisfaction.
Latest Trends in Flexible and Hybrid Work
- Increase of Flexible Work: In June 2024, 79% of job advertisements in the UK mentioned some form of flexible working, a rise from just 25% the previous year.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Companies are in various stages of implementing flexible work options, including compressed hours, part-time roles, and hybrid options, offering more options to attract and retain their employees
Summary
In response to this growing demand by employees for hybrid and flexible working, the UK government has legislated that from spring 2025, employees have the right to request flexible working from their first day of employment. This is a positive step forward, however if may not be enough to support hybrid and flexible working because employers can decline requests based on business needs.
TMR Group have found through working with our candidates and clients over the last 5 years in this changing realm of flexible and hybrid working that both have become a crucial factor for employees, with many valuing it as much as, or more than, salary considerations.
Times are changing – have you adapted or accommodated your working patterns to attract and retain talent. Or is it still a work in progress? If you would like to have a conversation with one of our experienced recruiters, please click this link: More Information on Hybrid and Flexible Working Patterns