Flexibility evolution: The transformative shift in workplaces over the last four years

24 June, 2024

Flexibility of hours is important to 38% of workers and 15% value the flexibility of location
38% of workers aged 55 and older put flexible hours among their top priorities, compared to 29% of workers aged 18 to 24.
Remote workers are more likely to feel insecure about their job than hybrid or on-site workers.

London – 26 June 2024: One of the biggest changes to the global workplace over the last four years has been the widespread adoption and availability of flexible work arrangements. Demand for flexibility jumped to the forefront during the pandemic but has since waned in importance, reveals ADP Research Institute’s People at Work 2024: A Global Workforce View.

In the UK, the survey finds flexible hours are important to 39% of workers, while 15% value flexible locations. Workers of all ages and in all regions rank flexibility of location below salary, job security, work enjoyment and career progression. In Europe, only 14% of respondents favour flexible location, a slightly smaller share than in Asia Pacific (15%), Latin America (15%), and North America (17%).

The desire for flexibility and other job preferences also varies with age. Workers aged 55 and older favour autonomy over their time more than their younger counterparts. Additionally, 38% of workers aged 55 and older put flexible hours among their top priorities, compared to less than 29% of workers aged 18 to 24.

Moreover, remote workers are more likely to feel insecure about their job than hybrid or on-site workers. 28% of remote workers feel insecure about their jobs, compared to 19% of onsite workers and 18% of hybrid workers. This finding might reflect a general unease among remote workers given their physical absence from the job site or feel that their employers do not trust them to be working effectively.

“The desire for flexible work arrangements isn’t going away, it’s just being reprioritized along with other job attributes that workers value, such as career progression and enjoyment of work,” says Dr. Nela Richardson, ADP Chief Economist.

ENDS

For more insights, please read the ‘People at Work 2024: A Global Workforce View’ report.

About the research

People at Work 2024: A Global Workforce View explores employees’ attitudes towards the current world of work and what they expect and hope for from the workplace of the future.

ADP Research Institute® surveyed 34,612 workers in 18 countries around the world between 22 October – 24 November 2023, with at least 500 per market specifically in the gig economy. This included:

15,383 in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom)
9,567 in Asia Pacific (Australia, China, India, Japan and Singapore)
5,860 in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil and Chile)
3,802 in North America (Canada and the United States)

Within the worker sample gig workers and traditional workers were identified. Gig workers were identified as those who work on a contingent, temporary, or seasonal basis, or as a freelancer, independent contractor, consultant, gig worker, or use an online platform to source work. Traditional employees were identified as those who are not working in the gig economy and instead have a permanent full or part-time position.

The survey was conducted online in the local language. Overall results are weighted to represent the size of the working population for each country.

About ADP (Nasdaq: ADP)

Designing better ways to work through cutting-edge products, premium services and exceptional experiences that enable people to reach their full potential. HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits and Payroll. Informed by data and designed for people. Learn more at ADP.com.

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Media Contacts:

Sara Ajazi
adp@greentarget.co.uk