The Benefits of Flexible Working for Employees
By Bruntwood
Previously seen as a perk to attract new talent or to accommodate working parents, flexible working patterns have become much more mainstream, with the number of job adverts offering flexible working having doubled since the start of the pandemic. From hybrid and fully remote working, to flexitime - there are a number of different ways in which this working arrangement can be implemented.
But what exactly is flexible working and how can it benefit both employers and employees to produce a happier, more productive workforce?
What is Flexible Working?
Simply put, flexible working is a working arrangement whereby the employee can work around their individual requirements. This kind of agreement can refer to working hours, location and days.
Some common examples of flexible working patterns include:
Changing from full-time to part-time work
Having flexibility on working hours, also known as flexitime
Compressed working hours
Remote working
Term-time working
Sabbaticals
Job sharing arrangements
Sometimes employers offer flexible working as part of their company policy, however, if your employer doesn’t offer it, it is within your rights to request it, through either a statutory request or non-statutory request.
However, according to the EY Work Reimagined Survey 2022, flexible working is now expected by candidates, rather than being viewed as a ‘nice-to-have’. So, in order to keep both current and new employees happy, offering flexible working may be required - but what exactly are the benefits?
What are the Advantages of Flexible Working for Employees?
It comes as no surprise that more flexible working patterns will provide your employees with a number of different benefits, including:
Reduced stress levels
A healthy work-life balance
More job satisfaction
When it comes to improving mental health in the workplace, one thing any employer should be looking to do is to reduce stress levels among their employees. In fact, a recent survey found that over 40% of workers thought that the introduction of flexible working into their workplace could contribute to lowered stress levels.
This has also been backed by studies, which found that work flexibility resulted in a reduced likelihood of job-related stress, along with increased job satisfaction - making for happier, more productive workers.
Benefits of Flexible Working Arrangements for Employers
It’s not just employees that can benefit from a more flexible work schedule, though - there are a number of ways in which flexible working arrangements can be advantageous for employers too, including:
Better staff retention
Improved company reputation among workers
Increased output from staff
Potential for reduced overheads for remote staff
More attractive to new talent
Improved staff morale
One of the biggest benefits of flexible working for employers is that their company reputation may improve, allowing them to attract and retain some of the best talent. A recent report found that employees were 2.6 times more likely to report being happy within their role and 2.1 times more likely to provide a positive recommendation for the company when flexible working was on offer.
The same survey found that flexible working is becoming more and more common, with an 83% increase in LinkedIn job posts mentioning ‘flexibility’ since 2019 and a huge 35% more engagement for these posts.
However, when it comes to attracting talent, it’s important to establish who you’re trying to attract with flexible work offerings. It turns out that generation Z are the ones looking for a little more leeway with their working patterns, with 77% more engagement on LinkedIn job posts that mention flexibility, compared to a -31% engagement rate for baby boomers.
The Role of Offices & Coworking Spaces in the Flexible Working Era
When it comes to flexible working, there’s a big focus on location flexibility, however, this isn’t limited to working from home.
From people wanting to cut down on their commute time, to those who moved from city centres to the suburbs during the pandemic - just because their office location may not be convenient, doesn’t mean people don’t want to work in an office. That’s where coworking spaces come in.
Whether people choose to hot desk at a local coworking space a couple of times a month, or companies choose to rent a flexible office space to allow for a reduced workforce within the office - coworking spaces are providing the ideal solution for this way of working that has - and continues to - grow in popularity.
So whether you implement a hybrid working option or introduce flexihours, you’ll help to keep your employees happy and productive whilst improving the overall morale and culture of the company. If you’re searching for flexible office solutions for your workforce, then explore our spaces today to find the ideal setup for your business.