A study released today underlines the continuing challenges facing people who want to work remotely some or all the time, or with flexible hours: more than a quarter (27%) of office workers who work flexibly believe they have missed out on a job promotion or opportunity.
This issue is particularly acute among millennials and older Gen-Z workers, many of whom are now in management positions and looking to develop into senior leadership roles: 37% of those aged 25-34 and 42% of those aged 35-44 feel they have been passed over.
The Work Remastered 2024 study, analysing 1,000 office workers across the UK and US, was carried out by consultancy United Culture, a specialist in culture, employee engagement, and behavioural change.
The survey highlights a disconnect between what leaders and their employees want. Amid calls for a full-time return to the office from growing numbers of businesses, work-life balance and flexibility remain the two factors people value most in a workplace (chosen by 43% and 27% respectively).
More than half (57%) of workers would leave or consider leaving their company if their employer limited the amount of flexibility they offer. One in seven (14%) would leave.
Mavis Boniface, global operations director at United Culture, says: “Working patterns have transformed post-pandemic. However, it seems many employers are yet to grasp the extent to which the new ‘norms’ have become embedded in the public consciousness, or they are trying to drag their people back to the office regardless.”
A quarter (25%) of those surveyed indicated their company has changed or reduced their options to work flexibly (i.e. to amend their start time or working days) over the last 12 months. This rises to nearly half (44%) of those aged 18-24.
Mavis Boniface comments: “Flexibility is clearly important to all types of employees, but especially to younger employees who are the future leaders. If those who work flexibly are missing out on opportunities and promotions, it means they will leave and go somewhere else – and no organisation can afford to lose talent.
“It comes down to a cultural shift within each organisation. People who work flexibly must be treated the same and given the same development opportunities as those who show up to the office. If leaders reward presenteeism over productivity, their businesses are in colossal trouble.”
According to the Work Remastered 2024 study, the type of flexibility that employees are looking for includes both when they work, such as compressed hours and early/late finishes (39% want this) and where they work (33%). More than half of workers (60%) currently work flexibly.
