2023 Salary Guide v10 DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 11
11
Attitudes toward flexible working
Demand for flexible working had been rising steadily over the
last decade, and the pandemic certainly accelerated this trend.
A recent Cisco survey revealed that 79% of employees agree
that remote working has helped them to improve their work-life
balance. Six out of ten people also believe they are producing
better quality work, with a similar number reporting enhanced
productivity.
Barclay Simpson’s research echoes these findings. Three-quarters
of candidates say they would like to work from home at least
three days every week. Of these, 28% want fully remote roles.
Very few (2%) organisations have instituted a full return to the
office, although this practice is more common among larger
US banks, tech firms and asset managers.
Ultimately, the vast majority of employers (88%) anticipate that
the changes they’ve made to their flexible working arrangements
because of the pandemic will remain in place over the long term.
This relaxation of policy could be why fewer employers currently
believe their flexible working approach is causing recruitment
and retention problems.
This has repercussions for recruitment and retention, as 69% of
candidates told us they would consider changing jobs if they
couldn’t have their preferred mix of home and office working.
Last year, 46% of respondents admitted they were concerned
their policies could be hindering their ability to attract, hire and
retain staff. However, only 28% said their remote and hybrid
working models were still an issue in 2022.
Fortunately, many organisations recognise the importance
of flexible working and an overwhelming majority (95%) have
implemented remote working policies. Hybrid models are
particularly popular, with two-thirds of employers allowing their
staff to work from home between two and three days a week.
In the war for talent, flexible working is clearly becoming a key
battleground. What was once considered a ‘nice to have’ perk is
now seen as an essential part of many roles, and employers who
are slow to embrace this trend may find it difficult to source the
right talent in a market where high-quality candidates are scarce.
Yes: 69%
5 days: 28%
0 days: 2%
No: 31%
Are you likely to
consider changing
jobs if you are not
allowed the home/
office working mix
you want?
4 days: 18%
How many
days would
you like
to work
remotely?
1 day: 7%
2 days: 17%
3 days: 28%