National Work Life Week research reinforces appeal of flexible hours

National Work Life Week (1st – 5th October 2018) starts today with the aim of encouraging companies to think about their employees’ wellbeing and happiness. To mark the week new research asked British workers about the things they most want from their work. The YouGov survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by the Oxford Open Learning Trust, found that while money is predictably the biggest motivator behind career choice (64 percent), over half of the respondents cited working hours and flexible working as an important factor (55 percent). With people striving for a healthy work-life balance, it is perhaps unsurprising that workers are looking for employment that fits in around their lifestyle and allows them enough time to themselves. It is also encouraging to see ‘enjoyment’ listed as the joint third most considered aspect during the job search process. Finances will always be central to a lot of career changes, but half of Brits (50 percent) say they would follow their heart and look for jobs which align with their personal interests.

The top 10 most important factors when choosing a new job ar

1. Salary: 64 percent
2. Working hours: 55 percent
3. Location: 50 percent
4. Personal interest / enjoyment: 50 percent
5. Job security: 40 percent
6. Working environment: 37 percent
7. Opportunities for progression: 26 percent
8. Opportunities for training / learning a new skill: 23 percent
9. The opinions of my family / partner: 12 percent
10. Status: 9 percent

The research found that over a quarter of British workers (28 percent) are considering switching careers in the next decade, while 13 percent are possibly looking to move within the next four years.

It appears that Brits are prepared to put the effort in for these new jobs, with nearly three in five UK adults (58 percent) saying they would consider training/retraining for a new career. This figure rises to around two thirds (66 percent) among current workers.

Dr Nick Smith, courses director and founder of the Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “People often see the start of the year as a good opportunity to start afresh and plan for a brighter future.

“Moving jobs is one way of achieving a lifestyle shift and it’s really interesting to see the main reasons why people are looking to make such changes.

“While money is always going to be an important consideration, it is pleasing to see that the nation is looking after their own interests too, with things like location and enjoyment listed highly.”

For more information on National Work Life Week, organised by Working Families click here.