Some employees feel their work-life balance is suffering, even with flexible working arrangements, according to Hays Ireland.
Expectations around flexible working and other employment conditions related to it, such as wages and work-life balance are shifting. A survey by Hays Ireland that received more than 1,450 responses revealed that almost two in five (38pc) of employers were planning to mandate workers’ presence more in the workplace.
However, flexible working is not going anywhere as 58pc of employers said that their current hybrid working arrangements would stay in place over the next 12 months.
The survey was carried out in August and September of last year. At the time, 44pc of employees worked fully from the office, while 41pc followed a hybrid model.
Employers varied in their expectations, with 27pc mandating three days of physical presence, 20pc requiring a minimum of two days in the office and 23pc offering full flexibility in choosing remote or office work.
The survey was published as part of a larger Hays Salary and Recruiting Guide for 2024. Maureen Lynch, Hays Ireland’s managing director, said the guide “reflects a sense of optimism in the job market”.
“As employees preferences shift, we see employers adapting their approaches to workplace setups. The report emphasises the significance of a healthy work-life balance and fostering in-person collaboration within teams.
“Our survey has shown that most employers are actively collaborating with their employees to enhance the workplace experience for everyone, highlighting the commitment by employers to create a better working environment.”
It seems, according to the survey respondents, that flexible and hybrid working may not be the best in terms of achieving a positive work-life balance. Almost half (48pc) of employees expressed concern regarding their working hours and said that they hoped for a change to enhance their work-life balance.
This particular finding may disappoint many who had hoped flexible working would be a big success for workers. Certainly, this time last year, many were asking if 2023 would be the year flexible working would succeed. However, the writing might have been on the wall as we reached the end of the year; last October, a CIPD report found that many Irish employers were struggling to attract and retain talent with the new way of working. Employee wellbeing and culture were flagged as being particularly difficult to get right.
More than half of Hays Ireland’s respondents (54pc) said they would consider future career opportunities that didn’t offer hybrid working.
After a rough year in terms of cost-of-living, the majority (61pc) of workers said they would not be willing to accept a lower salary for a fully remote role.
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