What job seekers really want in 2024 ??

Hello and welcome back to my newsletter! I write about the future of work, flexible working, startups, and DEI. If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, join 29,000 people and subscribe here!

This week, I’m sharing something a bit different: exclusive insights into what job seekers are looking for in their next role. If you’re a company looking to hire top talent or an HR/TA professional wondering why you’re missing out on top candidates, I highly recommend you stick around.

At Flexa, we’re always looking for ways to help organisations better understand the future of work and what matters to employees. We do this by analysing our dataset with 98 million, and counting, data points on candidate demand, company EVPs and employee workplace satisfaction. This helps us identify gaps, measure progress, and show you exactly what the best, diverse candidates want.

I’ll be sharing these insights more often, so if you’re not already subscribed, now is the time to do so.

In this edition, I’m going to focus on the top things candidates are looking for in their next role – these are the most searched for things on Flexa in the last 6 months. Don’t worry I won’t stop there. I’ll also be sharing how exactly you can embed these benefits into your EVP, and examples of fantastic companies that are already leading the way.?

In this newsletter I will look at:

??Graph of the week: Candidate demand for a 4.5 day week has increased by 40% in the last 6 months?

??The top 8 things candidates want in 2024

??How to align this data to your EVP pillars?

??This week’s must-read blogs

?Discover your EVP pillars with our 2 minute quiz

The work week has evolved significantly over time, driven by changes in technology, societal norms, and employee expectations. Oh and a global pandemic! From the traditional 9-to-5 office routine, we've seen a shift towards a wider variety of working arrangements.?

Up and coming iterations of an evolved working week include the 4-day week, 4.5-day week, and 9-day fortnight. The 4.5-day week is something we have in place at Flexa. This may work differently for each company; however, we have half-day Fridays, meaning our team can switch off for the weekend earlier and come back refreshed on Monday. If you are a company considering changing to a more evolved working week I recommend watching our latest webinar where Joe O'Connor, CEO and Co-founder of Work Time Reduction shares his strategies and tips on navigating a more evolved working week.?

8 workplace benefits candidates want in 2024

Looking back at the millions of searches candidates are performing on Flexa when looking for their next role, we've identified the eight things they are seeking the most.

These are the top things people are looking for when searching for their next role (in order of popularity) ??

?? Location flexibility?

?? Salary

?? A work-from-anywhere scheme

? Hours flexibility

?? An evolved work week (4 day / 4.5 day week)

?? Alternative working patterns (part-time / compressed hours)

?? Mental health support

??? Enhanced annual leave

So, why exactly are these benefits the most sought after and how do they benefit employees? Let’s break down each of them and dig a little deeper.

?? Location flexibility

What it is: The ability to choose where you work, whether it's from home, a coworking space, or another remote location.

Why employees care: Location flexibility allows employees to balance work with personal life, reduce commuting time and costs, and increase overall job satisfaction and productivity. It also benefits workers in rural locations.

?? Salary

What it is: The monetary compensation employees receive for their work.

Why employees care: A competitive salary is crucial for financial stability, meeting personal goals, and feeling valued for their contributions. It’s often one of the first things potential employees consider when looking at a job offer.

?? A Work-from-Anywhere scheme

What it is:? A WFA scheme allows employees to work from any location, potentially even internationally for a set number of days each year.

Why employees care: This gives employees ultimate flexibility to travel, live in different places, and manage personal commitments without being tied to a specific location.

Companies like Boomi, Not On The High Street, and Huel are already offering this fantastic benefit.?

? Hours flexibility

What it is: The ability to choose working hours rather than adhering to a strict 9-to-5 schedule.

Why employees care: Flexible hours help employees better manage their work-life balance, accommodate personal commitments, and often result in higher job satisfaction and productivity.

This benefit isn’t just for small companies. Large organisations like Mars, Mondelez and Attractions.io are offering their employees flexible hours.??

?? An evolved work week (4-day / 4.5-day week)

What it is:? A condensed work week such as a 4 day week ?where employees work fewer days, typically without working longer hours on the working days.

Why employees care: This allows for extended weekends, meaning more time for rest, personal projects, and family, leading to improved mental health and job satisfaction.

Collin Property Recruitment, Simprints, Atom Bank and People & Transformational HR are among forward-thinking companies offering a 4-day week.?

?? Alternative working patterns (part-time / compressed hours)

What it is: Non-traditional work schedules, such as part-time roles or compressed workweeks where full-time hours are worked over fewer days.

Why employees care: These patterns offer greater flexibility to manage personal responsibilities, pursue further education, or handle other commitments, making it easier to maintain a work-life balance.

?? Mental health support

What it is:? Resources and initiatives aimed at supporting employees' mental well-being, such as counselling services, mental health days, and wellness programs.

Why employees care: With increasing awareness of mental health issues, employees value employers who prioritise their well-being, providing support that helps them stay healthy and productive.

??? Enhanced annual leave

What it is: Enhanced annual leave is when a company offers more than the standard number of holidays.

Why employees care: Additional leave allows for more rest and relaxation, travel, and time with family and friends, which are essential for maintaining work-life balance and preventing burnout.

?? How to align these benefits to your EVP pillars?

When it comes to attracting and retaining talent as an employer you want to make sure you’re embedding these benefits into your EVP. But how exactly do you get started in doing that? The reality is you may already offer most of these but aren’t using them in the best way when it comes to attracting the candidates you want to work for you. Here are four simple steps to help you get started.?

Identify the right benefits for your EVP?

To start , you need to understand your workforce inside out. Look at the different needs you have across the company, from parents and carers to those with health conditions. Take the time to listen and gather feedback from your employees. Carry out surveys or interviews to get insights into their priorities and what would make a real difference in their lives. You can make use of our employee satisfaction measurement tracker to help you get started.

Remember, one size does not fit all, so aim for a diverse range of benefits that cater to different needs.

Review your existing policies and benefits

Start by looking at your company's current policies, culture, and benefits. Is what you’re already offering good enough to attract talent and keep existing employees? You may already have some good policies in place that need tweaking and refining.

Communicate your policies?

Once your policies are in place, communicate it to all employees and provide training to managers on what they mean for their teams. For example when it comes to flexible working policies a different style of leadership is needed. Encourage open conversations and address any concerns or questions. Regularly review and adapt the policy as needed so that it remains effective for your organisation.

Shout about your benefits and policies?

Once you have your working policies and benefits in place, it's time to let everyone know. By using a platform like Flexa, you can make sure you're attracting aligned talent who value your ways of working. Making it clear that you're an employer that understands what's important to the candidate will put you at the forefront when it comes to attracting diverse talent and creating an inclusive workplace.

?? This week’s must-read blogs

• How to incorporate your benefits package into your EVP
• How to build an inclusive Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
• Living your values: strategies for embedding core principles in your EVP

?? Discover your EVP pillars with our 2-minute EVP quiz

Have you ever stopped to think about what makes up your EVP and the different areas that define you as a company? Whether you have given it a little thought or none at all, our EVP quiz can help. This quiz is designed to help you identify your most valuable EVP pillars so you can shout about them to retain top talent. Once you complete the quiz, you will be shown your EVP tags as per the below example. These tags will highlight your company mission and values, work culture, and working environment.

When you become a Flexified company, these tags can feature on your profile to help you retain top talent. Candidates can also use these EVP pillars to search for companies, making it easier to attract aligned talent. You can take the EVP quiz here.