Who are the most flexible companies to work for in 2024?

Last week was a BIG week for Flexa and all the amazing companies out there championing flexible working, as we revealed the most flexible companies to work for in 2024. Not only that, we also hosted our second Flexa100 awards night, ensuring these companies received the kudos they absolutely deserve ??

Here’s what the night looked like ??

?? 227 attendees

?? 67 companies

?? 8 Future Of Work pioneers

?? 3 partners

?? 2 TikTok influencers

?? 3 salary discussions had

?? 17 awards awarded

?? 1,380 canapés eaten

?? 1,050 drinks drunk

?? 300 selfies taken

?? 97 dog photos shown

?? And 17 Flexatarians in a pear tree.

Impressive right? Well, not as impressive as our top flexible companies. We ranked the most flexible companies in their respective industries by their FlexScores, gaining some fantastic insights on the companies leading the way when it comes to flexible working. We’re excited to share this with you!?

In this newsletter we will reveal:

?? How the Flexa100 is calculated

?? The most flexible companies to work at in 2024

?? 7 fantastic benefits & policies the most flexible companies have in place

?? How to get yourself on next year’s Flexa100 list

?? How you can join our waitlist for an exclusive guide on ‘How to become one of the most flexible companies to work for in 2024’

?? How is the Flexa100 calculated?

Our Flexa100 ranking is the first list of its kind. We benchmark our companies using hundreds of thousands of data points that evaluate factors such as working from home, remote working, flexible hours, dog-friendly offices, flexible benefits, and other key ways of working and cultural indicators.

The Flexa100 list is made up of the top 100 most flexible of our Flexified companies, ranked in order of their FlexScore . The FlexScore represents each company’s flexible working environment by looking at the different flexible working options they offer. Beyond hybrid and remote working, a FlexScore is calculated based on location, hours, benefits, senior leadership, trust & autonomy, and work-life balance. The FlexScore is the result of a 2-step verification process, and combines a company's Employer FlexScore and Employee FlexScore - so you know it’s trustworthy.

?? The most flexible companies to work for in 2024

It was a close call, but we have our winners. Without further ado, we’re excited to reveal our top 10 most flexible companies. When it comes to embracing flexible working, these companies are the crème de la crème ?

Drumroll please... ??

Top 10 most flexible companies to work for:

1. Locum’s Nest (96%) - This workforce technology company is committed to empowering all NHS workers through its flexible working software solutions.
2. Amplifi (95%) - A remote-first data management consultancy that believes as long as work is done, employees can work in a way that works for them.
3. GrantTree (94%) -? Government Funding Specialists with a remote-first approach to working. The GrantTree team can be found working from a lovely co-working space in Shoreditch, or remotely from all over the world.
4. Austin International (94%) - A global specialist staffing agency that doesn't have set hours, and allows employees to design their working day to fit around their life commitments.?
5. Impression (93%) - A digital marketing agency with a hybrid-working approach that aims to empower people to work from the environment that best suits them.
6. Seatfrog (93%)? - A train travel company with a strict requirement for employees to enjoy a three day weekend every week with their 4 day week policy.
7. Storyblok (93%) - A content management system company that is output-focused, meaning employees can structure their own work day.?
8. Hurree (92%) - An analytics company that champions full-time and part-time remote options and dog-friendly offices.??
9. Oliva Health (92%) - A fully remote mental health platform for companies who want to help their people show up feeling their best—and do their best work.
10. Circle (91%) - An all-in-one communications platform with a team of around 120 (and growing!) based in countries all over the world. The Circle team adopts a fully remote approach and meets twice per year.

And here are the top 3 most flexible companies in each category.

Top 3 large companies for flexible working

1. Mars - Producing some of the world’s best-loved brands, Mars’ team of 140,000+ associates are taking action every day toward the world we want tomorrow.
2. Centrica - Centrica is a family of brands, on a mission to revolutionise how we power the planet.
3. VMO2 - Virgin Media O2 is an award-winning fibre broadband provider & telecommunications company that is reimagining connectivity to supercharge the UK.

Top 3 medium companies for flexible working?

1. Adaptavist - Adaptavist are experts at delivering innovative software, tailored solutions, and quality services across some of the world’s most trusted technology ecosystems.
2. Blip - Blip develops software, mobile apps, web platforms and retail applications for betting and gaming.
3. LucaNet - With their software and consulting for consolidation, planning, reporting and analysis, LucaNet is simplifying finance.

Top 3 scale-up companies for flexible working?

1. Austin International - Austin International’s mission is to be the leading challenger brand in recruitment wherever they operate, delivering the best talent to the technology and medtech industries globally.
2. Impression - Impression is the strategic agency partner that drives ambitious growth for exciting and ambitious brands across the globe.
3. Storyblok - On a mission to deliver the best Content Management System, Storyblok is helping organisations to empower their teams at every stage of the content lifecycle.

Top 3 emerging companies for flexible working

1. ProfitAbility - Serious games for people, planet and profit; ProfitAbility creates memorable learning experiences which make people better at their jobs.?
2. PTHR - People & Transformational HR develops strategies by leveraging the power of connected people and transformational Human Resource activities.
3. JBM - JBM is on a mission to disrupt the traditional, transactional recruitment model.

?? 7 must-have benefits & policies that the most flexible companies have in place

So, what exactly are these companies doing to earn their recognition as the most flexible places to work? We took a closer look at the top 50 on the list and are excited to share some of the characteristics they all have in common and are shouting about on Flexa!

84% of the top 50 companies offer enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Enhanced maternity and paternity is one of the most popular benefits amongst our Flexified companies. These policies go above and beyond the basic legal requirements for parental leave, meaning new parents can have more time with their new child and can better balance their work and family responsibilities. We need more trailblazers like Mars, who offer 26 weeks at 90% pay, to lead the way and create more inclusive and supportive work environments!

64% of the most flexible companies are remote-first

This flexible working arrangement allows employees to decide where they wish to work. They may choose to work remotely the majority of the time, spend a few days in the office? or adopt another arrangement that better fits their working needs. Flexified companies Blip , Prolific , and Blood Cancer UK are all leading the way when it comes to remote-first policies.

62% of the top 50 companies have team-building days in their benefits package

Being flexible doesn’t mean you don’t see your team, and it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t connect and have fun together. Take Up Learn as a prime example: once a year, the company organises a company retreat where they get out of the city for 3 days (all expenses paid!) and take a break together.

58% of the top 50 companies offer employees work from anywhere schemes.

With the option to work from any location, employees can enjoy the perk of travelling to new destinations or visiting family abroad without exhausting their annual leave. Flexa100 companies Tyk , Papercup and nPlan offer WFA schemes to give their employees greater flexibility and autonomy over work schedules, improved work-life balance, and increased productivity.

60% of the top 10 companies offer a work from home allowance.

When it comes to working from home, having the right equipment isn't just a luxury – it's a necessity. It's an investment in your team's productivity, well-being, and overall happiness. Think about it: your team spends a solid 8+ hours a day parked at their home desks. Top 10 Flexified company Storyblok offer all their employees a Hofy home office set up to make sure their team is equipped to perform at their best.?

62% of the top 50 companies are open to part-time roles.

Our 2023-2024 Flexible Working Report highlighted that companies open to part-time roles are incredibly popular among our candidates. So, it's no surprise that our most flexible companies are championing this type of work. Companies like SilverRail Technologies , Paddle and Mind Foundry offer part-time positions to help with greater flexibility. This helps employees better balance work with other commitments such as education, childcare, or personal interests.

70% of the top 10 companies offer health insurance.

With 7 out of 10 of the most flexible companies offering health insurance, it's clear that this benefit is here to stay. Access to healthcare means that employees can seek medical attention when needed without worrying about financial barriers. This promotes their overall well-being and reduces stress related to healthcare costs. By having access to healthcare, employees are also more likely to address health issues promptly, leading to improved productivity and less absence due to illness. Send Technology , Mr B & Friends and Shieldpay are some of the companies amongst the Flexa100 offering this benefit.?

What is the most flexible industry, company size and location??

In this year’s ranking the most flexible sector to work in is SaaS with SaaS companies accounting for almost a fifth (17%) of the top 100 most flexible companies. Finance & Insurance is the second most flexible industry, making up 12% of all companies on the list. Closely followed by the AI & Tech sector coming in third overall and representing 9% of the flexible employers in the top 100.

Here are some more takeaways our amazing research team discovered when data crunching through the Flexa100 list:

SaaS is the most flexible industry to work in, with nearly a fifth (17%) of the companies ranked in the top 100 operating within the sector.

SMEs dominate the list, with companies employing up to 249 staff accounting for more than two-thirds (73%) of the top 100 most flexible employers overall.

Large enterprises made up a greater proportion of the list than ever before, with companies employing over 1000 employees increasing by 80%, compared to last year’s ranking.

London is the most flexible city to work in, with over half (56%) of the top 100 most flexible companies being headquartered in the British capital.

But it’s not all about those new tech companies…

This year, large enterprises made up a greater proportion of the Flexa100 list than ever before, with companies employing over 1000 employees increasing by a staggering 80%, compared to last year’s ranking.

With companies like Centrica , Mondelēz International , TUI Group and Microsoft ranked in this year’s top 100 most flexible companies, it discredits the idea that it’s not possible for large corporates to offer flexibility.

?? How to get yourself on next year’s Flexa100 list

Do you already offer many of these benefits, or are you curious about just how flexible your company is? Take our free 2-minute quiz to benchmark yourself against our winners, and you’ll be on your way to joining the ranks of the most flexible companies to work for.

?? Join the waitlist for an exclusive guide ‘How to become one of the most flexible companies to work for in 2024’

Our upcoming guide will be packed with insights, top tips, and real-life examples from our Flexa100 companies. This is an exclusive look into how they put those shiny benefits into practice to help them attract and retain diverse top talent. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn how to become one of the most flexible companies to work for!

The guide will cover:

• Best practices from the 100 most flexible companies to work for?
• How to implement flexible working in your company?
• How flexible working policies can attract diverse and top-quality talent?
• What it takes to become a Flexa100 company?
• How to put your flexible working benefits and policies into practice?

Join the waitlist here.