Flexible working voted top benefit by majority of staff

Flexible working voted top benefit by majority of staff

According to a recent poll by executive search and selection recruiter Expand, 48% of employees value flexible working as the top benefit an employer could offer, suggesting that employees are now are seeking a more rewarding work/life balance.

The research, conducted via LinkedIn, found that after flexible working, nearly a fifth (17%) voted for professional study or training opportunities, 11% favoured private medial plans, 9% extra holiday and 15% said they would just prefer more cash!

However role still remains important to employees, with comments reflecting the need to work in an environment which stimulates and challenges, otherwise money and benefits seem meaningless.

“It is interesting to see that flexible working,  once seen as unpopular, is now be viewed as ‘supportive’ for business, particularly one operating across different time zones”, says Samantha Maxwell-Reed, Managing Director of Expand.  “However, this does create a new debate over how performance and teams must be managed correctly.  Employers must also consider how they can prevent a degradation of company culture and sense of team.”

With hard cash and financial rewards less prevalent, perhaps more employers should be encouraged to consider benefits, such as flexible working – with minimal additional cost to a business – to drive employee engagement.