The pandemic-inspired quest for a decent work life balance is piling the pressure on businesses, with the majority of bosses struggling to get staff back to the office and young people in particular claiming they plan to move jobs for more flexible working practices.
That is according to a new study by infinitSpace, which quizzed nearly a thousand full-time employees, including over 350 senior decision-makers within UK businesses.
It found that more than half (53%) of 18- to 34-year-olds are considering moving jobs to somewhere with more flexible working practices, either in terms of when or where they work, with more than a third (36%) of employees of every generation feeling this way.
Meanwhile, 61% of decision-makers admit they are struggling to get employees back to the office, with two-fifths (39%) seeking a new workspace to reflect their changing office needs.
Of those actively looking, 56% are seeking a flexible workspace and 44% are downsizing, with 45% saying it is difficult to find a space that meets their needs.
Back in June, a separate study by recruitment giant Robert Half revealed remote working is no longer viewed as the ‘holy grail’ by employers, with hybrid working – a mix of working from home and office – now seen as the perfect model for aiding staff retention, as well as helping them move up the ladder.
During the pandemic, more than half (52%) of employers moved to a policy of fully remote working. Perhaps inevitably, this has now dropped back to a third (34%). However, of those that had a fully remote workforce prior to the pandemic, more than a quarter (28%) have now abandoned that policy in favour of a hybrid model, suggesting a decline that goes beyond a return to normal.
infinitSpace chief executive Wybo Wijnbergen said: “The pandemic has fundamentally reset what people want and need from a workspace and, as the research clearly showed, it has also emboldened employees to seek greater flexibility. More than ever, employees have the power to shape their working week around the realities of everyday life.
“The importance of this is reflected by the staggering number of employees considering moving jobs for a working policy that better suits them. Positively, business leaders are showing an astute awareness of this, with decision-makers recognising that hybrid working policies are essential to retaining and attracting staff.
“The evolution of work is largely being set by employees and employers in tandem. Those who fail to meet the flexible and dynamic demands of today are going to find it very difficult to attract and retain the best talent. Evidently, though, the office landscape also needs to evolve, and fast, with demand for flexible workspace outstripping demand in many places.”
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