Are ‘flexiters’ 2024’s newest workplace trend?

As we enter the new year, there is already a new buzzword circling workplace discussion: “flexiters”.

It’s gained traction recently, with research showing that 75 per cent of workers are getting behind flexiting, striving for better flexibility, work/life balance, and mental health.

People2people Recruitment recently conducted nationwide polls, which shed light on the ever-changing trends in the workplace, particularly regarding flexiters.

Flexiters are employees who would consider leaving their jobs purely based on a lack of work flexibility. The report shows that 55 per cent of employees emphasised the highest of importance on their work flexibility, stating that they would consider packing up and leaving their job if it did not meet these expectations. This includes options for remote work and flexible hours, with 20 per cent indicating they would strongly consider leaving under similar circumstances.

Below are lists of the insights and priorities of employees for 2024:

Work flexibility:

• Fifty-five per cent of employees may leave their current job over reduced work flexibility (removal of remote work and/or flexible hours).
• Twenty per cent of employees may seek new opportunities due to insufficient flexibility.
• Twenty-three per cent of employees desired additional WFH days, with one in 10 seeking greater flexibility, and one in four requesting both.

Current satisfaction levels:

• Forty-five per cent of employees are unsatisfied with their current level of work flexibility.
• One in four employees plan to seek new job opportunities, with 52 per cent considering the possibility.

Remote work trends:

• Over 70 per cent of respondents plan to work from home.
• Thirty-five per cent desire increased remote work time, while 33 per cent are content with the current arrangement.

Priorities for 2024:

• Sixty per cent prioritised achieving a better work/life balance.
• Twenty-five per cent highlighted mental health as a top priority.
• Twenty-eight per cent emphasised salary and bonus increases.
• Eleven per cent value learning and development opportunities.

It’s evident that employees in 2024 are extremely focused on achieving things like a better work/life balance over other goals, like salary and bonus increases, both of which are often at the forefront of employees’ priorities.

Catherine Kennedy, managing director of People2people Recruitment, said: “It comes as no surprise that three in five employees are seeking more and more work flexibility. In the current market, with uncertainty shadowing the next few months, it might be hard for employers to match these expectations.

“However, in the long run, it is essential to ensure you remain competitive with other employers, or risk rising recruitment and training costs as a result of higher staff turnover.”

The flexiter mindset could be here to stay for employees going forward. If employers aren’t willing to expect that, they could risk losing a large amount of their talent pool, based on these statistics.