British job seekers demand ‘core hours,’ flexible schedules – Flexa survey
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — Job seekers are increasingly prioritizing flexibility in their work schedules, according to a recent analysis by UK-based Flexa, a global job platform focusing on flexible workplaces.
The study, released on August 4, reveals a growing trend towards “core hours” and flexible work arrangements, signaling a potential compromise between employers and employees resistant to full return-to-office mandates.
The analysis was based on insights from 4,343 job adverts and 9,473 workers between the start of April 2024 and the end of June 2024.
Rise in demand for ‘core hours’
The analysis found that in June 2024, 14% of job seekers expressed a preference for roles offering “core hours,” up from 11% in April.
Core hours typically require employees to work during specific times, such as 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., while allowing them to complete their remaining work on their own schedule.
“Workers are caring more about when as well as where they work, and flexible working hours are something that far more employers agree with them on, thanks to the trend towards asynchronous work and output-led management,” said Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO and co-founder of Flexa.
Employers adapting to flexibility demands
From the employer side, the data shows a significant increase in job postings offering “a little flexibility.”
The number of such job offerings more than tripled between June 2023 and June 2024.
By June 2024, nearly 8 in 10 job postings mentioned this benefit, a steep increase from 50% just two months earlier.
Johnson-Jones emphasized the importance of this shift, stating, “Ultimately, flexible working hours meet many different needs for many different workers. And having even just ‘a little flexibility’ around work start and finish times can make a big difference”.
However, employers seem hesitant to fully embrace core hours. The number of job vacancies offering core hours decreased from 15% in April to 8% in June 2024.
New flexible working rights in the UK
The UK has officially expanded its laws on flexible work, allowing employees to request flexible working arrangements such as remote work or modified hours from their first day on the job.
This significant amendment to the Employment Rights (Flexible Working) Bill removes the previous requirement for workers to be employed for six months before making such requests. Now, employees can make two requests per year, and they are no longer required to explain how their requested accommodations might affect the business.
