More than a third of UK workers actively looking for job with flexible working

New research among more than 2,000 UK adults, all in full-time or part-time work, commissioned by Nerd Wallet claims to have uncovered the importance of flexible working practices to employees today. Its main finding is that more than a third of full-time workers in the UK are currently looking for a new job because they would like a role with greater flexibility. It also claims that 71 percent of people consider flexible working – in terms of both the hours and location they work – as important to their job satisfaction.  However, half (50 percent) cannot work remotely when they want or need to, and 46 percent have no flexibility in the hours they work.

Consequently, one in three (29 percent) of full-time workers have left a job in the past 12 months because they wanted a role that offered greater flexibility. Furthermore, 37 percent of full-time staff in the UK are currently looking for a new job for the same reason – this figure rises to 52 percent among those aged between 18 and 24, and 46 percent for 25-34-year-olds.

The survey also looks at how employees’ strong appetite to reduce the working week from five to four days. Three quarters (75 percent) of UK workers are in favour of a four-day week even if they have to squeeze their full five-day hours into one fewer days, while 49 percent would take a relative (20 percent) pay-cut to move from a five-day to a four-day week.

Elsewhere, the survey uncovered that 45 percent of workers find it harder now than in the past to detach themselves from their jobs because they receive work emails on their smartphones around the clock. Moreover, over two-fifths (42 percent) do not feel their employer supports or cares about their mental health and almost a third (32 percent) are unhappy with their current work-life balance.

Key findings

• 71 percent of UK workers consider flexible working (in term of hours and location) as important to their job satisfaction
• Women are more likely to say this than men (74 percent versus 67 percent respectively)
• But half (50 percent) cannot work remotely when they want or need to, and 46 percent have no flexibility in the hours they work
• 29 percent of full-time workers have left a job in the past 12 months because they wanted a role that offered greater flexibility
• 37 percent are currently looking for a new job for this reason
• 75 percent of UK adults are in favour of a four-day week even if they have to squeeze their full five-day hours into one fewer days
• 49 percent would take a relative (20 percent) pay-cut to move from a five-day to a four-day week
• Elsewhere, 45 percent of workers find it harder now than in the past to detach themselves from their jobs because they receive work emails on their smartphone 24/7
• 42 percent do not feel their employer supports or cares about their mental health
• 32 percent are unhappy with their current work-life balance