One study found that young people won’t join companies that aren’t flexible about how their employees choose to work.
More than half of 18- to 34-year-olds say they don’t believe they have to work full-time in an office. More than a third say they have changed careers to work more flexibly during the pandemic.
Research by business finance lender Sonovate, based on a survey of 4,500 people, shows that the coronavirus crisis has prompted a change in attitudes. Two out of five people surveyed do not want to work the way they did before the pandemic.
Official statistics show that the percentage of employees going to work has increased since national restrictions were eased in late March and has now exceeded 50%.
Senior business figures and politicians have been divided on the issue, with some suggesting that those working from home will be left behind.
Catherine Mann, economist on the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee, said this month that women working from home are at particular risk as “two lines” develop in the workplace.
However, Jane Fraser, the boss of Citigroup, one of the largest US banks, has said that allowing employees to work from home for part of the week has re-created the workforce.
Richard Prime, co-founder of Sonovate, said: “As the pandemic causes a significant proportion of UK young workers to lose their jobs or keep working, young workers have more time than ever before. all to consider what they want out of their career.
“The crisis has prompted a major shift in attitudes towards what work looks like.
“Younger people’s preference for portfolio careers and multiple side gigs stems from a desire to have a better work-life balance and earn an income from what they are passionate about. passionate about.”
