A recent study from YouGov has shown that working flexibility continues to be popular among workers, with women in particular highly valuing flexible working.
The study polled workers in 21 countries and found that most were in favour of the continuation of work-from-home policies introduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and most were in favour of flexible working hours. The poll also found that women valued flexible working arrangements more than men. In America for example, 57% of women polled said having flexible working hours was important in a job compared to just 44% of men.
Flexible working is important for many jobs
With many workers placing higher value on flexible working, more companies are looking at ways to implement a more flexible schedule. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to many companies implementing work-from-home policies, and even though the pandemic has eased in the last year, many workers want these policies to continue.
Flexible working provides many benefits to businesses and employees. Without having to travel long distances to get to work, workers can have a better work/life balance, can start working easier, and will not be at risk from any potential disruptions, such as travel delays. What’s more, more employees working from home allows a business to drastically reduce its carbon footprint. Flexible working also allows workers to choose the hours they work, so they can decide when they are most effective.
Technological innovations make flexible working easier
The increase in technology over the last few decades has made flexible working easier, as companies can explore new avenues of reaching potential customers through digital spaces. A good example of this can be found in companies driving customer engagement with webinars. These webinars allow companies to talk directly with customers, which can provide valuable feedback and get more people interested in their brand. Webinars also allow companies to conduct research to gain a better understanding of their target audience, and can even allow them to reach out to new demographics that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to communicate with, which can have a big impact on customer loyalty, brand recognition and a company’s profitability.
Another important technological tool that makes flexible working easier is conferencing apps such as Microsoft Teams, Skype or Zoom – driving customer engagement with webinars is also a lucrative idea. These apps allow workers to easily communicate with each other without being in the same place. Video conferencing allows workers to share ideas and keep up to date with the business, and also allows for asynchronous communication, meaning workers can share and receive information regardless of where they are or what time zone they’re in. With these advances in technology, companies are able to hire employees from all over the world without worrying about communication issues.
Final thoughts
As the YouGov study shows, workers still highly value flexible working. Though it may not be feasible for every business, implementing flexible working policies can be hugely beneficial, potentially giving a business an edge when it comes to hiring new staff and allowing them to boost employee productivity and morale, as well as giving them new ways to reach out to potential customers.
