Research from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has found that flexibility is favored by both men and women and is necessary to help retain both employees.
The research revealed that in companies that do not offer flexible working arrangements, women are 20% likely to look for a new job in the next three years, while men are 30% more likely to do so.
Furthermore, one-third of respondents to a FlexJobs survey said they would leave a job if it did not offer flexible work options. Another FlexJobs survey saw the same percentage of women with children under 18 unable to work due to workplaces not offering flexibility.
Experts have found that flexible work options and paid leave for fathers can boost female retention as it helps lighten the caregiving load that mothers often have to bare.
To fully implement a variety of practical flexible work arrangements, organizations should ensure the program is beneficial to both men and women, involve workers in setting policies and make sure that senior-level staff also partake in the program to set an example.
