Three out of four employees want their company to make work permanently flexible

NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2021 / PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE / – More than seven in ten employees (76%) say they want their company to make work permanently flexible in terms of hours or location. But their desire for flexibility at work is challenged by the opposite message: Employees report that their employer sees them as more innovative and work more on-site, according to a survey commissioned by Catalyst and CNBC from Harris Poll.

In the survey of 903 people in the United States, the data shows that flexible work options are crucial for employees: 76% of people say they want their company to make work permanently flexible in terms of hours or the location.

The report, The Great Work / Life Divide: How Employee Desire for Flexibility and Concern from Companies Is Driving the Future of Work. are shaping the future of work), shows that the “great resignation” (the massive and voluntary exodus of the workforce) will continue if companies and managers do not show more empathy or care and understanding for employee concerns, as well as for the needs of his personal life and work.

“This survey is a wake-up call for CEOs,” said Lorraine Hariton, President and CEO of Catalyst. “The paradigm of the 9 to 5 hours in the office is outdated, and if you do not respond to the needs of employees by offering flexible and remote work options and showing them empathy, valuable talent will be lost and innovation will be frustrated.”

The impact of Covid-19 is responsible for employees seeking flexible and telecommuting work

Half of the employees intend to change careers due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Of those intending to make a career change, 41% said they are looking for a flexible or telecommuting job, followed by 39% wanting a raise or promotion and 33% interested in changing sectors.

Almost a third of employees who intend to make a career change due to the Covid-19 pandemic (32%) say they are going to look for another job in the same industry, while about one in five (22% ) is planning to quit his current job and start his own business.

But there seems to be a disconnect between employers and employees; Most of the workers surveyed indicate that their company is communicating the message to them that employees are more innovative (72%) and work more (75%) in the office or on site.

Among those who do all their telecommuting work, nearly two in five (39%) say their employer has implemented practices or policies since the pandemic that have positively impacted their willingness to stay at their job.

Stress in the workplace is exacerbated by the return to face-to-face school

But there is still more stress for working parents. More than half of working parents in the United States are considering leaving their jobs because they feel that their company (54%) or superior (51%) does not give due weight to their concerns during the pandemic.

And nearly two in three working parents (65%) believe that their ability to perform their jobs optimally has been affected by concerns about sending their children back to school during the pandemic. The majority of working parents express their desire that their children’s school provide for mandatory use of masks for all (78%) and require vaccination for eligible students, teachers and school personnel (69%).

The data also indicates that working parents could benefit from increased support from their employer. While roughly three in five working parents (62%) say their employer has improved their childcare offerings and policies since last year, a similar proportion of working parents (61%) feel they are exhausted at work. for managing the educational needs of their children during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Interestingly, while much has been written about the impact of the pandemic on working women, the survey found that working men are much more likely than their female peers to state that they are considering leaving their job because their company ( 50% vs. 30%) or your manager (44% vs. 29%) have not given due weight to your concerns during the pandemic.

About Catalyst: Catalyst is a global nonprofit organization supported by many of the world’s most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that are functional for women. Founded in 1962, Catalyst drives change with preeminent thought leadership, actionable solutions, and a motivated community of multinational corporations to accelerate and advance women’s access to leadership roles, because advancement for women is advancement for all.