As someone who has worked both flexibly and largely remotely for several years, I have always been interested in how the work environment is changing. From our work at Message House it’s apparent that employee expectations are high at the moment. Employees, along with some government pressure, are pushing for greater flexibility and a more supportive work environment. However, while increasing flexibility and improving wellbeing should be welcomed, they are not the whole solution to employee engagement. It’s not enough to ensure employees can work flexibly in a supportive environment – it’s also about the role individuals play when at work. Some degree of autonomy when doing day to day tasks remains critical for motivation and overall fulfilment.
First, let’s look at flexibility. When and where they work is a really important consideration for a growing number of employees – arguably a non-negotiable now for some. Flexibility means different things to different people, and can also change depending on life stage. For example, some will seek compressed hours or more home working in order to juggle caring responsibilities or support their own health. For others, it’s about the freedom to work from anywhere or earn additional income during the cost of living crisis. Some are going even further. With Flexa, you can search for jobs that will consider your desire to walk your dog at lunchtime or work in a dog friendly environment as part of your requirement for flexibility.
The changing legislative environment around flexibility is another sign of how expectations on this issue are shifting. Soon, employees will no longer need to be in a role for a period of time before they have the right to request flexibility. UK Government legislation allowing employees to request flexible working from the start of a new role has received Royal Assent and will likely come into force in the Summer of 2024.
Flexibility is just one aspect where employee expectations of their employers is high. Mental and physical wellbeing support is another.
The vast majority (77%) of people care about working for a company that values employee well-being, with Gen Z and Millennials most likely to feel this way. 69% of office workers would like their employer to do more in terms of physical health support. Responses from organisations vary. Some are making meaningful changes, like adding mental health support as an employee benefit and incorporating sabbaticals and paid time off. While nobody will argue that fruit in the office is a bad thing, diversity of benefits are going well beyond the obvious now. A more integrated approach to wellbeing that reflects the workplace culture, with initiatives that last, are required.
As with flexibility, we again see the legislative environment shifting, with the government said to be considering tax breaks for organisations that enhance their occupational health provision. Furthermore, despite the problematic name, there has been significant coverage of the mid-life MOT.
Moves to improve flexibility and improve wellbeing are to be welcomed and it is right that they are getting considerable attention. Nevertheless, they are not the complete solution. As well as where and when a person works, a vital part of the answer is the actual work the person is doing on a day-to-day basis. The Gallup Workforce survey shows that workplace stress isn’t really impacted by whether people work from home or in the office, (welcome though that flexibility is) but it is improved by greater autonomy. As Dan Pink has long argued, individuals gain greater fulfilment and are far more motivated if they have some autonomy over their working day.
Flexibility means different things to different people. One’s definition of good health likewise. Our work suggests that if an organisation can create an environment that understands and responds to differing needs, combined with ensuring sufficient day to day autonomy, employee and employer alike will benefit. The modern world of work is thankfully completely unrecognisable to Dickens, but I see no sign that the current great expectations are waning.
