Flexible working has become a way for employers to cater to varying needs of workers in different personal circumstances, such as working parents, those caring for family members and more.
Joel McInnes, CEO and co-founder of careers platform company FlexCareers, believes that companies will have to adopt flexibility in order to continue attracting and retaining employees from now on.
McInnes also explained that demand for flexibility will continue to increase among several generations, but millennials in particular have grown to fully expect flexibility as a standard offering in the workplace. By 2025, millennials will be the largest generation in the global workforce, so it is clear that organizations must adapt to these changes to ensure job satisfaction.
Additionally, one of the main priorities for HR in 2020 will be the need to create candidates rather than hiring new ones. Instead of hiring a new candidate for every new skill needed, reskilling programs can provide existing employees with new abilities and boost their morale. In 2020 and beyond, an employee’s learning value proposition (LVP) will be just as important as their employee value proposition (EVP).
Growing environmental concerns has also led employers to encourage remote working as it has a huge impact on reducing carbon emissions and boosting sustainability.
Moving forward, the view of flexible working will have to change from a nice amenity, to a necessity for progressive, modern companies.