During September, we conducted two polls to better understand what kind of working arrangement people want moving forward as well as what working arrangements companies are offering. We can now compare the results of these polls, analyse the discrepancy and discuss the effects that this may have.
1: Hybrid
Unsurprisingly, the majority of people (54%) are looking for a Hybrid working model. People want flexibility and the option to work from home while also having an office space that enables them to meet face-to-face with their team on a regular basis.
Companies have recognised this and based on our results, 59% of organisations are offering a Hybrid working model. It’s been proven that employees can effectively work from home and as a result companies are willing to continue offering flexibility.
2: Remote
41% of respondents would prefer a fully remote working arrangement. Based on our conversations with candidates, we understand that a fully remote role is particularly appealing to those with young families and those who are living outside of the Dublin for whom commuting is more challenging.
There is an 11% discrepancy here as only 30% of companies are currently offering a fully remote working arrangement.
3. Office Based
11% of companies are looking to return to a fully office-based working arrangement. This will bring with it an array of challenges in attracting the top talent as only 5% favour returning to this model.
From a recruitment perspective, we have found these roles the most challenging to fill as many candidates are simply not interested in hearing about office-based roles as the majority of businesses are offering flexibility.
Unfortunately for employers, they are either going to have to be flexible instead of rigid in terms of working arrangements or they will have to pay a premium to get someone to work fully onsite. Even added financial incentive is not guaranteed to be enough as people highly value work-life balance and getting more time at home with their families.
Conclusion
What employees want and what employers are offering are relatively in-line with one another despite some minor discrepancies. 95% of employees are seeking either a hybrid or remote model which will be the challenge for the 11% of businesses that are looking to remain office-based.
These changes to the way we work will have massive knock on effects over the coming years and we may see the workforce spread more evenly across Ireland, a decrease in traffic and remote working hubs opening across the country.
