And how do workers define flexible work?
Open up any employment news report these days and you’ll see that workers want flexible schedules.
But what does that even mean? And does it mean the same thing to workers as it does to employers?
We decided to find out with two polls. One here on Movin’ On Up, and one on Refresh Leadership, our blog for business leaders.
The Results
Job seekers listed “freedom to adjust your schedule to accommodate personal family needs” at number one, with 22% of the vote. Just under 25% of business leaders agreed, making this the most popular response for both groups.
The number two definition for jobseekers at 19% of the vote was “freedom to adjust your own hours/schedule.” Number two for employers was “options to work outside the traditional 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. business day,” with 20% of the vote.
And rounding out the top three for jobseekers was “options to work outside the traditional 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. business day” at 18%, while 15% of employers chose “freedom to adjust your own hours/schedule” as their number three choice.
Beside that slight difference, responses were more or less the same. We’ve listed the remaining results for both job seekers and business leaders below.
What Flexibility Means to Jobseekers:
- Working extra hours each day to accommodate a 4-day week: 10%
- Working from home part-time: 9%
- Working remotely from another city or state/province, etc.: 7%
- Working from home full-time: 5%
- Working part-time: 4%
- Unlimited vacation/paid time off (PTO): 2%
- Job sharing: 1%
- Doing freelance/gig work: 1%
What Flexibility Means to Employers:
- Working extra hours each day to accommodate a 4-day week: 11%
- Working from home part-time: 10%
- Working remotely from another city or state/province, etc.: 8%
- Working from home full-time: 3%
- Working part-time: 3%
- Unlimited vacation/paid time off (PTO): 2%
- Job sharing: 2%
- Doing freelance/gig work: 1%
What does this mean?
Job seekers and employers mostly agree on what flexible work means. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that flexibility is being provided. Conversations should be had between employers and employees to work toward a suitable solution to the flexibility question.
About Express
Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Express Employment Professionals is a leading staffing provider in the U.S and Canada with over 800 locations. If you have any questions about part-time work in your area or job search in general, feel free to contact your local Express office or fill out our online contact form.
Does your employer offer a flexible work situation? Let us know in the comments section below!
