2/3s of workers would quit for more flexible work: survey   10 Jul 2015

Fiona Rotherham

July 10 (BusinessDesk) - Around two-thirds of workers would consider leaving their current job if offered a comparable one with greater flexibility, a new survey has found.

The study, undertaken by recruitment firm OCG and diversity consultancy Divertas, surveyed 1,300 New Zealand workers across 20 industry sectors on changes to the flexibility provisions in employment law introduced last year. The Employment Relations Act amendment gave workers the legal right to ask for flexibility in work practices, but there is low awareness of the change among employers.

Divertas chief executive Carol Brown said a perception persists that managers can use their discretion when it comes to flexible work, ring-fencing jobs and people they want to offer those arrangements to even though the law changes mean there have to be solid grounds for refusal.

The survey found only 28 percent of respondents had formal flexible working arrangements and more than half weren’t aware of their rights. A further 28 percent who currently don’t have flexible work, plan to apply for it within the next year.

Women remain the predominant users, mainly so they could care for family members. The survey found workers of both genders aged in the 31- to 45-year age group were by far the largest users of flexible work, which Brown said is an issue for companies as this includes the middle management group who will eventually become leaders in the organisation.

When asked about the key benefits to them, most respondents cited work-life balance and improved physical and mental well-being. Gen X respondents were more focused on caring responsibilities while Millennials wanted to be able to pursue personal interests.

The main barrier stopping workers asking for flexible work, particularly Millennials, is fear of negative career consequences. They’re concerned it will be career limiting due to a widespread culture of 'presenteeism' – needing be seen at work rather than being judged on output. They’re also worried about excessive workload if reducing their hours.

“Most managers are not equipped to have the conversation or manage on outputs, they just see it as more hassle,” said Brown.

The two leading sectors for flexible work were financial services, mainly led by the banks, and government. Both sectors are also those with the highest number of female employees. The outlier was the IT sector, which despite being 80 percent male dominated, appears to be leading the way regarding flexible work.

Silicon Valley-based talent expert and futurist Kevin Wheeler said there is a global trend towards workforce deregulation and flexibility, with workers wanting more choice over when and where they work. They’re not necessarily looking to work fewer hours because they want to maintain income.

He said the IT sector had pioneered a new way of working that doesn’t require standard hours in the office, starting with stay-at-home Fridays that have morphed into ‘don’t come into the office unless you need to’. New technology apps allow colleagues to communicate in this virtual world when they need to, he said.

“Older, more established companies are still mostly resistant to making this move compared to start-ups and older workers are more resistant,” Wheeler said.

As companies downsize office space, the trend is for public co-working spaces where employees can hire an office, or even a table or sofa for meetings rather than going into work, he said. These co-working spaces, which he said around a third of US companies now use, are typically situated in neighbourhoods so people don’t have to travel far.

Another big trend in the US with technology advances and the rise of the collaborative networked economy, was the growth of freelance employees, who may work for several organisations at once. Wheeler expects those arrangements will account for about half the US workforce within the next decade from the quarter it makes up currently.

“This new world is about being innovative, creative and thinking outside the box, it’s not about working your way up the hierarchy and doing what you’re told,” Wheeler said.

Brown said local trends such as the growing ethnic diversity, ageing workforce, increasing talent shortages, and rise in the level of female participation in the workforce, mean Kiwi companies will need to revise the way they currently think about flexible work and how they manage their workforce.

“One size, does not fit all,” she said.

(BusinessDesk)

Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more