UK 
United States
With the new Government’s proposed New Deal for Working People set to entrench flexible working rights for UK employees, new research highlights the need for businesses to get communications around flexible working right, or risk damaging employee trust.
The research, from Europe’s leading HR software company for SMEs, Personio – which surveyed over 2,000 workers and 1,000 HR decision makers in the UK – reveals a clear demand for flexible working. Only just over half (57%) of desk-based workers feel that they have a good work-life balance, and currently, only 45% say they are currently able to work flexibly at times that suit them.
Personio is calling for businesses to clearly communicate their flexible working policies to employees, acknowledging that flexible working will vary across organisations. Ultimately, decisions on this should be made with the success of the business in mind, but be carefully balanced against the needs and preferences of employees.
Younger workers most likely to walk away over flexibility
The return-to-office debate is a key aspect of flexible working. Over half (56%) of HR decision makers report that employees have been reluctant to return to the office post pandemic. In fact, four in ten (39%) desk-based workers say that being forced to return to the office more than three days a week would lead them to quit their job.
