All those discussions about flexible work for your employees are about to pay off. New research now shows that, overall, the workforce views workplace flexibility as more important than salary and paid time off.
In a study conducted by SquareFoot and Justworks, 70% of employees surveyed ranked flexible work hours as “very important” and 57% said the option to work remotely was “very important.” In comparison, unlimited paid time off was only ranked as “important” by 44% of those surveyed and, on top of that, 42% said they’d take a lower-paying job if it offered better workplace flexibility options.
But while it’s tempting to jump on the workplace flexibility train, it’s important to slow down and think through the implications before taking the leap. Even though it’s clear that employees put a high value on remote work and flexible hours, there are certain challenges associated with the practice, such as determining eligibility and maintaining communication.
You also don’t necessarily have to dive right into offering remote work for everyone or all the time. Easing into a practice of flexibility shows your employees you trust them and are willing to work with them, but it’s always better to take baby steps and gradually increase flexibility rather than giving too much too soon and then needing to backtrack.
Whether you currently have a completely flexible workplace or haven’t implemented flexibility at all, it’s important to think through the long-term benefits and pitfalls – as well as recognize that a flexible workplace is the workplace of the future, and there are many different ways to introduce flexibility. Finding what works for you and your workforce is the key to maintaining that balance. Looking for more advice on flexibility and other workplace trends? Check out the Smart HR Insider blog.
