Two-thirds (69 per cent) of working parents have either left or considered leaving a job due to lack of flexibility, according to a survey by FlexJobs.
The survey, which questioned more than 1,000 working parents in the United States with children under age 18, also found 84 per cent of respondents said they look for work-life balance when considering a job offer. This was followed by salary and flexible working options (75 per cent each), work schedule (72 per cent), health benefits (38 per cent) and retirement benefits (36 per cent).
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The top reasons respondents are seeking out flexible working opportunities include the ability to maintain a work-life balance (81 per cent), family (78 per cent), time savings and avoiding the stress of commuting (40 per cent each).
“Flexible employment gives people more control over how, when and where they get things done, which is vitally important for groups of people like working parents who have many responsibilities,” said Sara Sutton, founder and chief executive officer of FlexJobs, in a news release. “Whether it’s working remotely, having a flexible schedule, working part time or freelancing, people with flexible work options are better able to structure their work so that they can preempt many of the clashes that typically happen between work and life.
“Too often, flexibility is seen as a nice-to-have perk, but for many people, perhaps the majority of people who use flexible work options, flexibility is a necessity, and without it they might not be able to participate in the workforce at all.”
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The survey also found 81 per cent of respondents said they’d feel more loyalty towards their employer if they had a more flexible work arrangement, while 31 per cent said they’d consider taking a salary reduction if they could telecommute as often as they wanted.
Some 85 per cent of respondents said having children at home affects their interest in a flexible work arrangement. The vast majority (98 per cent) said flexible working is something they desire for the long term and 62 per cent said they feel more productive working from home.