The vast majority of employees say flexible working is important when considering a job, according to new research from workplace advisory body Acas. The YouGov survey found that 78 percent of employees considered flexible working important, compared with 20 percent who said it was not. The findings come ahead of changes to flexible working rules under the Employment Rights Act 2025. Under the new provisions, employers considering turning down a flexible working request will be required to consult the employee before reaching a decision, and will only be able to reject the request where it is reasonable to do so. (more…)

Hybrid working could deliver significant productivity gains by helping organisations retain employees, recruit from a wider talent pool and preserve institutional knowledge, according to new economic modelling from International Workplace Group (IWG) and Arup. The analysis estimates that improved employee retention associated with more flexible working practices could be worth $204.7 billion to the US economy and £10.8 billion to the UK over five years. Retention represents the largest potential source of productivity gains identified by the modelling. (more…)

Nearly a third of UK workers believe being present in the office is rewarded when employers make promotion decisions, despite the continuing shift towards hybrid and remote working, according to new research from HR technology firm HiBob. The research found that 30 percent of workers believe office presence is rewarded in promotion decisions, the same proportion who cited revenue delivery. Visibility to senior leadership was cited by 34 percent of respondents, while 33 percent said constant availability was rewarded, suggesting employees continue to see physical and organisational visibility as important factors in career progression. (more…)