Employees rejecting job opportunities from firms without flexible work opportunities: survey
Flexibility remains a priority for many employees after a new report found that scaling back on related benefits is driving employees away.
Findings from the International Workplace Group (IWG) show that 67% of in-house and agency recruiters observed an increase in candidates looking for a new job after their employers mandated them to spend more time at a central office.
Three in four recruiters also revealed that there have been job candidates who rejected job opportunities because the organisation does not offer flexible work.
Another 72% also said firms that don't offer hybrid work are becoming less competitive in the job market.
"Flexibility is no longer a nice-to-have for employees. Many will not consider new roles that require long daily commutes, they want access to workspaces closer to where they live in an environment that allows them to remain motivated and productive," said Mark Dixon, CEO and founder of IWG, in a statement.
According to the IWG, the most common reason why employees do not want to travel to work is the significant cost (44%) and the time it takes to commute (40%).
Meanwhile, the report found that reduced flexibility isn't only risking a talent exodus, but also a potential decrease in performance.
One in five employees (21%) who report to the central office five days a week said they experience burnout on a daily basis. These respondents attributed their situation to long commutes that they have to endure to come to work.
Another 55% said they would feel more empowered in their role if their employers allowed them to work from a variety of locations.
"Flexible working offers benefits to businesses far beyond employee retention. The hybrid model is proven to boost workforce productivity and job satisfaction while also cutting costs significantly," Dixon said.
The findings come as a growing list of organisations, such as Amazon and Tabcorp, have begun announcing full office returns after years of allowing work from home.
Amazon first announced its mandate to return onsite for five days a week in September, with the requirement to be implemented in January 2025.
Nicholas Bloom, Stanford academic professor, previously predicted that quit rates will rise "by perhaps 30%" in Amazon following its announcement of full-office return.
Bloom forecasts that Amazon may push through despite a jump in quit rates and replace departing staff with those more willing to work five days a week.
However, he also believes Amazon could potentially change course on the mandate in the next year.
"They may find the policy is hard to enforce as quit rates surge, and decide it's not worth enforcing, quietly dropping this in mid-2025," Bloom said on LinkedIn.
