The rise of flexible working since 2020 has forced businesses and organisations to adapt to employee needs due to the range of benefits it has provided them. As a result, remote and hybrid opportunities have become more common and employees are increasingly seeking opportunities with a flexible setup. As organisations debate whether to have employees back in the office 5 days a week, various benefits come from flexible working that employers can benefit from and cannot overlook.
First and foremost, one of the major benefits of flexible working for employees is their improved work-life balance. Hybrid setups allow employees to balance their work schedules with their personal lives and responsibilities. Employees with hobbies such as fitness or studies, can balance their activity with their working schedule. As a result, this can lead to a reduction in stress, higher employee retention, and employee satisfaction.
Flexible options attract diverse talent, including parents, caregivers, and people with disabilities, building a more inclusive work environment.
Hybrid working enables employees to work in a location of their choosing for a few days a week. Working in a preferred environment can boost morale and increase productivity as a result. This is due to better focus. Not having to worry about commuting to and from the office reduces the worry about time spent in travel disruption.
Productive employees are happy ones. Flexible schedules help prevent burnout by allowing employees to take breaks, manage workloads, and set boundaries more easily. The ability to manage workloads can have a positive effect on employee wellbeing.
As we highlighted earlier, not having to worry about commuting to and from work is a huge benefit, particularly if it is costly. As inflation continues to affect employees, they are looking for ways to manage their finances; whether it be for travel, meal preparation or childcare costs. Flexible working can provide a solution for employees.
Retention and loyalty are one of the main priorities for employers. Although staff turnover can be common due to employees being under contract, employees looking for a career change, or new roles, high turnover can be the result of them unsatisfied with their working conditions. Offering flexible work arrangements increases employee loyalty, as they feel their personal needs are respected.
Thanks to the abundance of tech and digital solutions, flexible working increases the need for employees to develop their digital skills and familiarise themselves with new tools. They can also set aside time to develop their skills; whether that be from studying a course, or watching tutorials.
The fact is, flexible working has become the norm. Job searches require it, employees benefit from it and the tools and tech available are taking away the need for employees in the digital sector to be in offices 5 days a week. Although team collaboration could arguably be easier in a working environment, the continuous and rising shift in digital capabilities is providing increasing benefits in flexible working that outweigh the disadvantages.