Flexible Working in 2019

Each year PowWowNow runs a flexible working survey to examine the continuing changing landscape of modern working. As retirement ages and life expectancy increase and better technology comes into play, the demand for a better work life balance is pushed to the front of the business agenda.

Here are some of the top insights for flexible working in 2019:

From our survey, we found that:

  • 79% believe working flexibly would make them more productive
  • 81% of people believe that flexible working would make a job more attractive to them, compared to 70% in 2018
  • 35% of people would request flexible working over a pay rise
  • 68% of British workers are offered flexible working compared to 54% in 2018
  • 80% believe an agenda gives focus and improves productivity in meetings
  • 57% believe that seeing someone’s screen makes a more productive meeting
  • 64% believe video allows people to stay more focused in online meetings
  • 62% believe that virtual meetings are better with video
  • 58% believe technology helps businesses save money
  • 75% agree that technology helps improve productivity
  • 44% of our time is wasted on ineffective communications
  • 26 – the average number of people we interact with daily
  • 2 hours a day spent on phone calls or meetings

There you have it. People are wanting to work more flexibly, and flexibility makes employers more attractive when people are looking for new roles.

It’s interesting to see the shift in how businesses approach offering flexibility, a 14% increase from 2018. And the main result – technology helping with productivity and saving businesses money.

It’s clear that the world of work is continuing to change, and that technology is a driving factor in that. It will be interesting to see what the rest of 2019 holds and beyond.

If your feeling inquisitive and want to compare check out our results from 2017 here.