New research by comparison website KnowYourMoney.co.uk has revealed that more than 1 in 3 UK staff are looking for a more flexible job than the one they already have.
The research was compiled after surveying the opinions of over 2,000 UK workers who currently have either a full or part time job.
Exactly half of the respondents complained that they could not work remotely when they wanted to, and almost as many (46 per cent) said they had no flexibility in the hours they are currently required to work.
The survey found that almost a third of people surveyed had recently handed in their notice on a full time position in order to take on a role which offered more flexibility.
In a sign of the growing trend, an even larger number (37 per cent) of current full time staff in the UK said they are actively looking for a more flexible vacancy to apply for. The trend is even more pronounced amongst younger workers, with 52 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 currently hoping to find a job which offers more flexibility.
Gender also seemed to have a bearing on the results, with 74 per cent of women saying that flexible working was important to their job satisfaction, compared to 67 per cent of men. Across both sexes that figure averaged out at 71 per cent.
Commenting on the research by his firm, the Director of KnowYourMoney.co.uk, Nic Redfern, said: “Working practices have changed radically over the past two decades. The rise of new tech has made it far easier and more common for employees to work remotely and flexibly. However, our research clearly shows many workers feel their employers have not yet caught up with the flexible working trend, so it’s important managers take note of these findings and assess how they can cater to the demands of their workforce.”
“Evidently, organisations are at risk of losing talented staff if they cannot provide more flexible structures; whether that’s relaxing the set office hours, allowing employees to work from home, or even offering the option of a four-day week.”
“Ultimately, technology shouldn’t increase employees’ stress levels by preventing them to switch off, but instead should be embraced to create new opportunities for people to achieve a better work-life balance,” added Mr Redfern.
Other findings from the KnowYourMoney.co.uk survey include:
- More than 1 in 3 workers are unhappy with their current work-life balance
- Just over 2 in 5 do not feel their employer cares about their mental health
- 3 in 4 UK workers are in favour of a four-day week
- Almost half of workers would take a pay-cut to move from a five-day to a four-day week
So, if you are unhappy with your current work-life balance and would love to move into a more flexible role then you’re on the right website! Use the search bar above now to find a flexible part time job in your area or drill down using the job descriptions at the right side of the page.
