One of the most obvious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increase in flexible working. Businesses were forced to quickly adopt new behaviours like remote working and virtual meetings which have stuck and many workers, who were previously office or site based, now expect the ability to work in other locations.
According to a 2022 UK parliamentary research briefing, before lockdown around 12% of the UK workforce had worked at least one day from home in the previous week and around 5% reported working mainly from home. In September 2022 that had increased to around 22% doing at least one day from home in the previous week and around 13% from home exclusively.
As flexible working has become the norm for many, companies who have been behind the curve may have to rethink their practices in order to attract a new generation of talent.
A study by Virgin Money found that 81% of Millennials (25-34 year olds) and 75% of Gen Z-ers (16-24s) want more choice around when and where they work, and are prioritising flexible working over pay rises and promotions.
Although driven by a younger workforce, changes like these are likely to filter through to everyone as businesses adapt to the needs of a new generation.
What does flexible working look like?
One advantage of flexible working is that it’s, well, flexible. It can be shaped to the needs of your company.
Compressed hours for a shorter working week, starting and finishing at different times or hybrid working (which is a mixture of office and home working) are all options to be considered if you’re keen to make your business stand out to younger talent.
Working a fixed number of hours annually but spreading them out differently each day, is also an option, as is job-sharing – a practice that many companies will already be familiar with.
Perks to lure people back to the office
Flexibility can of course extend to areas beyond a change in hours or location. It won’t suit every company and in fact, some employers are keen to tempt staff into the workplace with ever innovative lifestyle options such as these highlighted by the BBC.
These seven perks appeal to workers of any age and share the common feature that they need to be enjoyed in person.
- Electric car charging
- Dog hotels so you can keep an eye on that lockdown pup and save on walkers or daycare
- Team holidays – maybe not for everyone but they can lead to bonding and creative ideas
- Wellbeing spaces for practising yoga or meditation
- Quiet zones or libraries for concentration away from distractions at home
- Free food to help save on lunches.
More flexible options with staff benefits
Enjoy Benefits offers a complete package of staff benefits which increase choice and flexibility for companies and staff.
There are options to buy and sell holiday, reduced gym membership, discounts on major brands, holidays and days out, childcare vouchers and opportunities to save on the costs of a new car or bicycle. There is also a range of health and medical benefits and taken all together they make your company even more attractive to workers of every age and level of experience. Staff benefits can make staff happier, healthier and less stressed, and also boosts staff attraction and retention.
To find out more about employee benefits check out our website or speak to us today.
About Us
At Enjoy Benefits, we have great experience in helping companies of all sizes introduce benefits that are suitable for their workplace.
Benefits are easy to set up and ongoing administration is then run through a hub, allowing employees to manage their own benefits while the employer can see which benefits are proving popular and what level of take-up each has had.
If you would like an obligation-free chat to discuss which benefits might work for your business and your employees, please contact us by calling 0800 088 7315 or using our Contact Form.
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