FlexJobs has released the results of a survey that identified the top jobs and companies that support flexible scheduling, which has risen to a high level of importance for employees since their experiences during the pandemic.
Flexibility in Demand
In fact, according to the research, 21% indicated that inflexible work hours was the main factor driving them to look for a new job. Topping the list of factors making workers consider changing jobs was poor work/life balance, cited by 29% of respondents. Rather than take the risk of losing employees, employers should consider ways they can offer the kind of flexibility that’s now in high demand.
Top Jobs and Companies for Flexible Work
FlexJobs identified the top flexible schedule remote jobs in 2023:
- Accountant
- Account manager
- Bookkeeper
- Business development manager
- Content writer
- Customer service representative
- Product designer
- Product manager
- Therapist
- Virtual assistant
Top Flexible Companies
- BairesDev
- TELUS International
- BELAY
- BCD Travel
- FluentU
- Achieve Test Prep
- Outliant
- Vituity
- Study.com
- Talkspace
There are a number of things employers can do to provide more flexibility to employees. This doesn’t have to mean allowing them to work entirely remotely or establishing other “all or nothing” work models. Instead, they can take advantage of various options, offering choices for employees to increase their work/life balance.
Offering Choice
Some of the choices employers might consider include:
- Flexible hours. Allow employees to choose their hours, offering flexibility within a work group or team as long as core hours are covered and customer service needs are met.
- Compressed workweek. Employees might be given the option of working longer hours and fewer days, with scheduling balanced to ensure coverage.
- Job sharing. Two or more employees could split the responsibilities of 1 hour, offering flexibility in days and hours worked.
- Flexible leave policies. Companies are offering such options as paid time off (PTO), parental leave, sabbaticals, and personal days to help employees best balance their work and personal demands.
- Mobile and remote work. The pandemic has taught many organizations, and managers, that mobile and remote work is possible.
Working with employees individually, companies can often come up with the best balance to meet company and employee needs. It pays to pay attention, and be as flexible as possible, when dealing with today’s employees. Flexibility matters.
Lin Grensing-Pophal is a Contributing Editor at HR Daily Advisor.