Graduates drawn to flexible working

A new generation of workers is emerging, with a new set of values and attitudes. Due to the economic downturn, the graduate recruitment market has shrunk and those who are a part of it are less interested in corporate wellness and more interested in cold, hard cash. Money has increased in importance due to student debt, the cost of living, rising housing costs and so on. Unemployment rates are currently quite high and so luxuries such as flexible working become less important than simply finding and keeping a good job.

Whilst this is the case for the current economic climate, it is important to look ahead to the future, and what the job market will hold after the recession. Typically, workplaces following a recession see a huge boom in graduate recruitment, and, as such, they should be thinking about how to recruit the very best and retain them with an attractive package.

The benefits of flexible working should be considered as part of that package. This can come in many different guises but all are beneficial to employee wellbeing. Job sharing is one option, as well as working from home or doing a pattern of condensed working hours mixed with flexitime, in order to take better control of how they manage their time. These opportunities to stray beyond the typical nine to five working hours can be very appealing to new generations with a more independent spirit, and also offer family-friendly options to those trying to juggle working with raising a family.

Just by offering flexible working, an employer also shows themselves to be caring and family friendly. It is a legal requirements for employers to consider and employee’s flexible working request, although they are not obliged to agree.

Many young people nowadays are mixing one or two different jobs (known as having a portfolio career) and flexible working helps with this. A survey of 14,000 graduates found that the top three benefits that appealed to them were flexi time, condensed hours and time off in lieu.