The Future of Work Is Flexible

The appeal of working remotely isn’t hard to fathom: surrounded by home comforts, no lengthy commutes, and the freedom to work uninterrupted (when the kids aren’t at home, of course). But how can it help you to win in the war for talent? Last week we spoke to Communications and management expert, and acclaimed author, Christine Armstrong as part of our Expert Echo webinar series. For those of you who attended the insightful session, no doubt your notebooks are full of insight, tips and advice on all things hybrid working. For those that signed up but couldn't make it, the recording is on its way to you.?

So where and when did remote working start? For many industries, especially tech, it was something that was already well in play. For the majority, the grip of the pandemic may have sent the world into a tailspin, but it also served to highlight something that many businesses have been reluctant to acknowledge in years gone by: a lot of jobs can be executed just as well from home. In this particular case, we had no choice but to embrace the way of working.?

There will of course always be exceptions to the rule – and people who want to head back to the workplace full-time. But for those who are happy to meld their home lives with their professional pursuits, the cessation of remote working could cause heads to turn.?

There’s also a number of reasons employees would push for working remotely, especially during a cost of living crisis. Earlier this year we asked nearly 1,000 visitors to randstad.co.uk if they would push for remote working with things like fuel costs on the rise. Unsurprisingly, nearly half (45%) said yes.?

With a distinct shortage of candidates in the market right now, and a fierce battle for talent set to ensue, that’s not a situation any employer will be quick to welcome.

The increasing attraction of flexible working?

In this year’s Randstad Employer Brand Research (REBR) , a survey of 6,000 UK workers, the most important driver when choosing an employer was the ability to achieve work life balance. This was ranked as the highest driver by 65% of respondents, even above salary.?

Productivity is also something that employees claim they gain from flexible working - last week, 47% of visitors to our website (666 votes) told us that they work more productively with a hybrid setup.?

There is definitely an appetite for this dynamic to stick around and not be phased out. With the news of Elon Musk putting an end to Twitter’s ‘work-from-anywhere’ policy and company rest days, some businesses may think it’s time to follow suit, however our most recent poll data suggests that four in 10 employees would quit their job if their employer asked them to come into the office five days a week.?

Appealing to a new dynamic

Randstad’s annual Workmonitor survey of 35,000 employees across 34 markets, one of the largest studies of its kind in the world, revealed that 40% wouldn’t even consider accepting a job that doesn’t support remote working. To reinforce the importance, our REBR research also highlighted that 95% of the current remote workers believe they will continue doing so, if partly, in the future, and 21% of the British employees believe that in the future they will work remotely only. Among those who already work completely remotely, 39% assume they will continue doing so in the future.?

The most important thing in the decision to continue, or to offer, remote working as an ongoing option is to talk to your people about their wants and needs.?

For some, work is a refuge and a chance to socialise, focus, and feel part of something; for others, home-working fits far better with family life, eases certain stresses, and allows for a better work-life balance.?

How to support remote working

Commute time was flagged in our survey as an important issue when considering a new role, but the option of remote working renders this somewhat obsolete. This does of course allow employers to target a much wider pool of candidates than when confined by geographical parameters. However with some remote setups, employees might be better off financially actually commuting due to increased energy costs:

• Randstad.co.uk homepage poll (September 2022):
• Amid rising energy prices, is it more cost-effective for you to: (700 votes)
• Commute to work 40%
• Work from home 39%

But with a pleasant work atmosphere ranking as the fifth most influential factor in accepting a job offer (REBR), it’s important not to neglect workplace culture if remote working becomes the norm.

We’d advise scheduling team check-ins, one-to-ones, virtual coffee chats, regular surveys to monitor wellbeing, open communication around workloads and stress levels, the option of in-person meet-ups for anyone feeling isolated, and of course the choice of hybrid working for those who thrive on a mix of old and new.??

Remote working can be an incredible draw to job seekers, and a valid reason for your existing employees to stay – so wield it wisely. For more advice on working from home visit our work from home hub: