Employers are quickly catching on to Future of Work trends and the impact that technology can have for employee retention, especially in today’s highly competitive market.
Companies are rethinking the tools they use to keep employees engaged and loyal – especially at a time when flexibility and choice are paramount to an increasingly mobile workforce.
A newly released survey from Jive Software, Inc. finds that as today’s workforce continues to evolve and new Future of Work trends emerge, seven out of ten (72 percent) employees want to use more technology in the workplace that enables them to work from anywhere.
Furthermore, the same 72 percentage people believe that the freedom to try tools makes them more effective in their job, with 43 percent finding it a powerful loyalty driver. Eighty-four percent of employers want to implement modern technology tools that enable workplace flexibility as a way to attract and retain top talent.
However, there is room for improvement, as 72 percent of respondents believe their company could do better to provide technology that enables more flexibility and 64 percent believe it is “very important” to have the flexibility to work from anywhere.
Key findings from the survey are:
Remote Attraction: Flexible work environments and access to technologies that support productive remote work schedules are increasingly a top consideration in job decisions. 81 percent of employees feel that the freedom to try new tools impacts their job satisfaction. Interestingly, the more senior a person is in their organization, the more strongly they feel about flexibility.
82 percent of senior staff considers flexibility either a “must have” or “very important.” 79 percent of respondents work remotely once a week. But among those who don’t, nearly half say they like going to the office and interacting with colleagues and 43 percent say the nature of their job makes remote work difficult.
See: Plan Now for Tomorrow’s Robotic Workforce
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Employee loyalty will continue to be challenged where remote work is not offered. 79 percent of workers who currently have flexibility to work remotely would consider exploring other employment if the option was removed. 62 percent of people report that working remotely is a priority when seeking new employment.
84 percent of workers who don’t have the option to work remotely say they would take advantage of the benefit if it were offered. Companies with a zero remote work policy are out of luck. 30 percent of job seekers would not even consider working for a company that doesn’t offer it.
Give Them What They Want: Technology plays a key role in employees’ comfort levels at work, but these same employees feel companies could do better. While 72 percent of companies provide access to modern technology to aid communications and collaboration, and 60 percent see access to this technology as “very important” or “essential,” 35 percent of workers say their employers don’t provide any such tools at all.
60 percent of employees say it is very important to have access to modern technology for communication and collaborating at work. 68 percent say their company gives them the freedom to use or try tools that make them more effective in their jobs.
Freelance Nation on the Rise: As more companies consider contractors and consultants to accomplish key but sometimes short-term programs, ensuring the immediate success and impact of freelance work takes higher priority.
90 percent of workers are more likely to freelance for an organization that provides access to the same tools used by employees to connect and collaborate with others in the organization.
Also read: ‘Future-proof workers’ to keep up with changing times
