74% Of Workforce Lacks Training For New Flexible Work Era

A new report suggests that while flexible work opportunities are growing in the U.S., companies are still struggling to update their practices and provide necessary training to support this transition.

More than half of all U.S. workers, or 58%, now report to having an option to work remotely, at-least some of the days out of the workweek. However, a new report reveals that nearly three out of four workers have not received adequate training to help navigate this transition effectively.

According to The 2024 Workplace Flexibility Trends Report — a collaboration between TechSmith, Global Workplace Analytics, and Caryatid Workplace Consultancy — while organizations have embraced changes in work environments, many have yet to implement necessary support measures for employees.

The report, which surveyed 900 U.S. leaders across HR, real estate, IT, and product roles, suggests the need for companies to adapt their practices to support the future of work. Some of these practices include:

Training managers to lead distributed teams,
Establishing team norms,
and adopting best practices for remote collaboration.

The data also reveals a slight preference for real-time communication (55%) over asynchronous methods (45%). However, 70% of employees believe that email communications could replace over a quarter of their meetings.

Generational differences and company size also significantly influence work flexibility. The data reveals that Baby Boomers enjoy greater flexibility than Gen Z, at 74% and 63%, respectively.

Additionally, smaller companies are more likely to allow fully remote work compared to larger organizations. The findings emphasize the importance of tailored support and training to bridge the gap in flexible work readiness across demographics.

As the workplace continues to evolve, companies must prioritize adapting new practices and training to ensure a smooth transition to remote and hybrid work. By addressing these challenges, organizations can improve employee engagement and promote collaboration in the era of flexible work arrangements.