Employees Want Flexibility
As offices around the world continue to open for business, many companies expect their employees to return full time. However, new research suggests this is unlikely to happen. The majority enjoy the flexibility they have been given to work from anywhere and are willing to leave jobs to maintain it.
Employees prefer flexibility and will leave their jobs to get it. This is according to a global survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Citrix Systems. Nearly 60% of the 6,500 workers polled across 10 countries prefer hybrid work. Furthermore, 69% will leave their current jobs if it is not an option.
People have now experienced the positive impact of flexible work, from engagement and productivity to work-life balance, mental health, and the environment. As a result, they expect employers to embrace it and invest in tools and processes that empower them to work when, where, and how they work best.
The Flexible Work Model Is Here to Stay
The flexible work model is in full effect. Of those employees surveyed:
- 71% work or plan to work in the office between one and four days per week.
- 56% are or plan to be in the office full time.
- 49% work from shared and communal workspaces between one and four days per week.
- 49% are fully remote and plan to remain permanently remote.
Work today is not an office. Instead, it is a place where people get their best work done. This could be at home, in the office, on the road, or anywhere in between.
Every employee is different. Therefore, companies need to recognise and accommodate their unique wants and needs if they hope to attract and retain the people they need to support their business.
Why Employees Want to Work from Home
For instance, many respondents to the Citrix-OnePoll survey want to work from home at least part of the time for the following reasons:
- Better work-life balance (42%)
- Save time and costs associated with commuting (35%)
- Fewer distractions (20%)
- More productive (20%)
- Colleagues or managers are not in the office (19%)
- Do not have a dedicated space in the office (7%)
- Restaurants and amenities near the office are limited or closed (6%)
Why Employees Still Value the Office
Other respondents indicated they would like to head to the office at least once a week for the following reasons:
- Feel more productive and engaged (36%)
- Colleagues or managers are there (36%)
- Better access to information (33%)
- Provides a separation between work and home life (29%)
- Access to better technology (28%)
- Fewer distractions (25%)
- Greater collaboration (24%)
- Better opportunities to develop or advance their career (16%)
- Technology needed to facilitate hybrid work is too complicated, such as dialling in remote workers, sharing presentations, and sharing files (14%)
- No dedicated workspace at home (13%)
Flexibility Extends Beyond Location
In addition to where they work, employees who participated in the Citrix-OnePoll survey also want flexibility in when they work.
Thirty percent want the freedom to choose how often they work in the office rather than having the company mandate a set number of days. Additionally, 76% would work a four-day week if they could maintain their salaries.
Giving employees the flexibility to match their work environment and schedules to the outcomes they are trying to deliver gives them the space to succeed. If the Citrix-OnePoll survey is any indication, companies will need to do this if they hope to attract and retain the talent required to move their business forward.
The Future of Work Is Hybrid
As the numbers reveal, 17% of employees polled view flexibility as more important than salary. Furthermore, 69% would consider leaving their job if it is not offered.
Hybrid work is the foundation on which the future of work will be built. Companies that recognise this and put the right processes and technologies in place can cultivate the flexible, agile, and empowered workforce they need to innovate and grow.
A modern digital workspace helps organisations support hybrid work while maintaining productivity and employee satisfaction.
At the same time, businesses need secure access to applications and data regardless of where employees choose to work.
Supporting a hybrid workforce also requires strong cybersecurity measures to protect users, applications, and company data from anywhere.