Today’s study highlights the challenges that people face who wish to work from home, either part-time or full-time, or who have flexible working hours. More than a quarter of office workers (27%) who work in this way believe they missed out on an opportunity or promotion.
This is a problem that is especially acute for millennials, and older Gen-Z employees. Many of these workers are in management roles and want to advance into senior leadership positions. 37% of the 25-34 year olds and 42% of the 35-44 year olds feel they’ve been overlooked.
United Culture, a consultancy that specializes in culture, employee engagement and behavioural changes, conducted the Work Remastered study 2024, which analysed 1,000 office workers from across the UK, US and Canada.
Work-life balance and flexibility remain the two factors people value most in a workplace, despite calls from a growing number of businesses for resuming full-time work. Work-life balance, and flexibility are the two most important factors for people in the workplace.
More than half of employees (57%) would leave their employer or even consider it if they were to limit the flexibility offered. One out of seven workers (14%) would quit.
Mavis Boniface, global operations director at United Culture, says: “Working patterns have transformed post-pandemic. Many employers have yet to understand the extent to what the new “norms” are embedded in public consciousness or are still trying to drag people back into the office .”
In the last 12 months, 25% of respondents indicated that their employer had changed or reduced options for flexible working (i.e. In the past 12 months, 25% of respondents said that their company has changed or reduced their flexibility options (i.e. Nearly half (44%) are aged 18-24.
Mavis Boniface says: “Flexibility matters to all employees, especially younger ones who will be the future leaders. If people who work flexible are not getting the opportunities and promotions they deserve, then they may leave their current organisation and move elsewhere. No organisation can afford talent to be lost.
It comes down to cultural change within the organisation. The same opportunities for development must be given to those who work flexible hours as well as those who are in the office. Leaders who reward presenteeism instead of productivity are putting their companies in grave danger .”
The Work Remastered 2024 Study found that the flexibility employees want includes the ability to work from anywhere and at any time. Over half of all workers (60%) work flexible hours.
The first time HR News published the article New Research Reveals Hybrid and At-Home Workers Miss Promotions.
