Nearly a third (29 per cent) of employees would take a pay cut to work flexibly, while 22 per cent would take reduced vacation time and 19 per cent would give up employer-matched retirement contributions, according to a new survey by online service FlexJobs.
The survey, which polled more than 5,500 employees, also found 79 per cent of respondents believe the availability of flexible working options would increase their loyalty to their employer, while 73 per cent said remote working would help strengthen their relationships with their colleagues.
Read: Demand for flexible working expected to grow: survey
The majority (81 per cent) of respondents said they’re interested in a job where they can telecommute all the time, while 70 per cent are interested in a more flexible schedule. Nearly a third (32 per cent) said they’ve left a job due to lack of flexibility.
Survey respondents ranked work-life balance (73 per cent) as the most important factor when considering a job prospect, followed by flexibility of schedule and salary (both at 69 per cent), telecommuting (60 per cent) and meaningful work (57 per cent).
As to quality of life, 45 per cent respondents said having a job with flexibility would have a huge impact and 52 per cent said it would have a positive impact. Three-quarters (78 per cent) said it would allow them to be healthier, while 86 per cent said it would help lower stress levels.
Read: Employees want flex work but fear adverse impact on careers, study finds
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of respondents believe they’re more productive when working remotely than in a traditional office setting. The top reasons are fewer interruptions from colleagues (76 per cent), fewer distractions (76 per cent), reduced stress from the lack of commute (70 per cent), minimal office politics (69 per cent), quieter noise levels (62 per cent) and more comfortable clothes (54 per cent).
When it’s crunch time on a project, 52 per cent of respondents believe they’re most productive at home or in their home office. A quarter (25 per cent) of respondents said they’re most productive at the office during regular hours because leaving isn’t an option. And only seven per cent said the office is where they’re already at their most productive. Eight per cent said they’re most productive in the office after hours and six per cent said a library, coffee shop or some other shared space works best for them.
Read: Mid-size employers urged to embrace flexibility, lack of hierarchy to attract staff