New UK legislation means workers can now request flexible working arrangements from day one, and research shows those who know plan to do so in droves.
Until now, workers have had to wait until they have been in work for six months before asking to work flexibly. However, with the Flexible working billwhich will come into effect on April 6, staff will be able to do so from the first day of employment, although they will have to make a formal request.
A recent Slack survey shows a strong appetite for flexible working among employees across the UK, with more than half (55%) of workers planning to request these arrangements.
56% of UK employees already regularly work from home, 43% have flexible working days and three in ten work four days a week.
Meanwhile, 70% of workers are more likely to apply for a job based on the company's flexible working policy, rising to 76% for those aged between 18 and 34.
Three-quarters of workers told Slack they would be comfortable asking for flexible schedules, seven in ten would be comfortable asking to work from home, and two-thirds would be comfortable asking for compressed schedules.
However, working outside the UK was perceived as more of a demand, with only 45% feeling comfortable doing so. Similarly, only 40% were happy asking for a job share and a third working four days a week.
“The way we work and employees' expectations about work have fundamentally changed in recent years and flexibility is a key part of that,” said Chris Mills, global director of customer success at Slack.
“Research shows it is an important consideration for people today, and the Flexible Working Bill has brought it back into focus for employees and management.”
Employers are not convinced about flexible working
Eight in ten workers said they believe the ability to work flexibly increases their productivity, and three-quarters said it will help their business grow faster.
More than eight in ten workers revealed that technology facilitates flexible and productive work, a figure that increases to 95% for employees who work from home. Nearly three-quarters said flexible working is made possible by communication and collaboration tools.
However, the main reasons why workers believe their employers have rejected flexible working requests are concerns that it could negatively affect productivity and work quality levels, both cited by 17%.
Unfortunately for workers, employers are hesitant to accept flexible working requests.
The survey found that 57% are concerned about receiving new and more flexible working requests. Furthermore, more than 70% of companies have not yet proactively shared information about the latest rules with their employees.
“Success depends on more than simply giving employees the freedom to work when and where they want,” Mills said.
“It requires creating intentional in-person moments alongside thoughtful approaches to technology that enable seamless collaboration, connection, and access to information.”
