While cash is still king for many employees, being offered a more flexible workday could be one of the biggest motivators for workers looking to switch jobs.
Increasingly, workers want more freedom over how they work, and 70% of employees would leave their jobs for positions that allow them to work remotely more frequently or other ways of increasing their workday flexibility, according to a Softchoice study.
“Technology has made it easier than ever for employees to stay connected to the workplace anytime, anywhere and, as a result, employees increasingly enjoy more flexibility over their schedules,” said Softchoice CEO and president David MacDonald.
“We found most people really value the freedom to customize their workday – to be able to run an errand, schedule an appointment or pick up their kids from school and catch up on work when it suits them.
“Organizations that enable that kind of flexibility have become highly desirable places to work.”
The good news is 55% of employees say they feel their workdays are more flexible than they were two or three years ago. As well, 75% of those surveyed said they have been able to spend more time with family and keep social and personal commitments because they have more flexible schedules.
The study found 62% of employees feel they are more productive when they work outside the office, and 61% say they prefer working an eight-hour workday that is spread throughout the day, as opposed to a more traditional 9-to-5 arrangement.
