Is it a deal breaker? – The results are in!

Lockdown life revealed that for many of us – flexibility and autonomy over the working day is now more important than financial reward. So, we recently conducted a simple LinkedIn poll, where we asked the following question. Is NOT being offered job flexibility or hybrid working a deal breaker when searching for a new job, even if the salary is right?

The Results

Our poll consisted of 443 respondents and the results are pretty staggering. 77% (371 people) voted (YES) it is a deal breaker.

They would NOT consider a job change unless job flexibility is on offer, so what is this telling us?

If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that flexibility is key in all aspects of life. More specifically, flexible and hybrid options in the workforce are in high demand. This new wave of workplace flexibility is critical for positive workplace morale and productivity.
When the world went into lockdown, a lot of us had to adjust to a whole new work arrangement. Remote working and work from home policies took effect. However, the nature of some organisations’ on-site activity just didn’t and still doesn’t allow for a 100% remote work policy! The answer to this was some sort of balance between the two—a compromise that has produced what’s known as the hybrid workplace model.

In theory, a hybrid work arrangement offers the best of both worlds for employers and employees. It blends pre-pandemic patterns of office-based work with remote in a way that enables in-person collaboration and enhances overall productivity.
However, we have to acknowledge the fact that remote working and hybrid working does not suit everyone. 23% (102 people) of respondents said it would not deter them from changing jobs, if flexibility is not offered. Working remotely may seem like a wonderful opportunity at first, however, after a few months, when that novelty wears off, you might discover that there are several significant drawbacks to this work model that could compel you to hate the experience. Many people who work from home often struggle with maintaining a good work/life balance. This is because it can be easy to blur the line between the two, especially when your workplace is in your living room, bedroom, or in the palm of your hands.

Conclusion

What this poll is telling us is, a thoughtful approach to hybrid work will be critical for attracting and retaining diverse talent going forward. As there is a growing number of opportunities across the length and breadth of the country, it is very much a jobseeker’s market and employers need to continue to offer the same level of flexibility that people have become accustomed to over the past few years. Adopting a more trust-based approach that sees employees working from home full-time or agreeing when, and how, they join their team in the office, maybe the only way forward.

The challenge ahead for every organisation is to meet employees’ new, flexible work model expectations head-on, while balancing business outcomes in an unpredictable and volatile economy.

Ken Murphy

(Director) BE (Hons), CPIM – Cork Office

Ken Murphy graduated from University College Cork in 1987 with an Electrical Engineering degree before moving to the US as a Network Design Engineer with BellSouth Corporation. His return to Ireland in 1989 heralded a career which concentrated on the multinational sector, and involved working with companies such as Apple Computer, Cabletron, FMC Automotive, Moog, General Semiconductor and Technicolor.

Ken is a specialist in quality management, purchasing, logistics and supply chain management. He has significant expertise and experience in managing the changing demands of the global media, electronics and automotive sectors at operational and project management levels.

Ken leads CareerWise Recruitment’s Cork operations. He has served on local and national committees of IPICS (The Supply Chain Management Institute), CIPD, the Cork Electronics Industry Association (CEIA), and has completed a three-year term as Chair of the UCC Alumni Board.

Ken has recently been elected as a Director of the Cork Chamber for a four year term to help promote business and drive policy objectives for the Cork Region

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