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Candidates expect more flexibility from their future employers

By Nagasunder in News Stories, posted January 11, 2022

The business world has experienced an unexpected and significant transformation lately, forcing organizations to optimize their working systems. These include dealing with COVID-19, building diverse and inclusive teams, developing new skills, hiring talent, and considering hybrid work.

“87% of candidates would love to work at least half of the time remotely. Besides, more than half (58%) of leaders believe that flexibility offers great benefits for both people and businesses.” (source)

There are different reasons candidates seek more flexibility at work. These may be related to COVID-19, remote work trends, and the younger workforce is getting more dominant.

COVID-19 has undoubtedly amplified candidates' desire for more flexibility and even made it a common priority during job hunting. Precisely, it makes asking to work remotely the new normal. Significantly, remote work offers younger generations a better work-life balance by featuring flexible schedules, which allows them to start and end their day as they choose.

What kind of flexibility do candidates look for?

Workplace flexibility is an excellent strategy in talent management. It has become a policy in the business world that is no longer an option due to Covid. So, it has become a critical practice used by organizations to win and grow skilled talent. From the candidates’ side, they expect different kinds of flexibility from their dream job. Some of these include:

Hybrid workplace

With a hybrid workplace, employees can work remotely, boosting their morale and reducing their stress levels as they have the freedom to choose how much time they will be at the office. Candidates crave these kinds of perks of working when and how you’re most productive, having a better work-life balance, and reducing exposure to illness.

Flexible time

Flexible time or flextime refers to an operational plan that offers employees time benefits, choosing when to start and end their workday. It may also relate to how long they can take their break as long as they do a good job. Flexible time is an essential key to boosting work flexibility and attractiveness of a workplace.

Flexible career path

A flexible career path can be exceedingly appealing for workers in a situation where workers are allowed to change their career level in response to professional or personal priorities.

To make the job more exploratory, employees can handle new tasks at another job for some time and then rotate back to their original position. Workers can have more skills and experience by taking on new responsibilities through a job rotation system. Employers can easily promote retention, employee engagement, and growth.

Part-time opportunities

Part-time work will allow an employee to enjoy a flexible work arrangement that involves working less than full-time hours. One of the significant benefits of a part-time job is that it offers employees more energy and time for other activities.

Avoiding flexibility backlashes

It's crucial to know and understand that excessive flexibility can create several problems in a workplace. These common issues include disconnected leadership, unclear business vision & strategy, work from home burnout, employee disengagement, or employee health problem while WFH. So, how do you avoid these issues? Here are some tips:

Solution tips for employers

Improve employee health and wellness while WFH.
Host weekly check-ins
Setting healthy boundaries with employees and keeping them in the know
Invest in employees’ work from home space
Improve your time off policy

Solution tips for employees

Choose a workstation-friendly destination
Setting up a routine and sticking to it
Try digital detoxification
Plan ahead and remain professional
Have a proper workspace

Creating a suitable work environment to meet candidates' expectations

Candidates have higher control over where and how they work. This makes it crucial that companies take advantage of this and look for a way to attract them. One big step to take for your talent management strategy is working effectively on how to make your work environment favorable to both current and future employees. You can get this done by meeting every potential employee’s expectation (more flexible options)

Flexibility plays a significant role in attracting, hiring, and retaining top-rated talent for your business. It's essential to take the combination of investing in establishing an excellent work-life balance for employees and implementing flexibility seriously. This will help boost employee satisfaction and help onboard perfect talent for your company.

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