Thread by @FutureForum

The way we work has changed more in the last 15 months than any other period in history.

The end of the pandemic is when the real work for leaders begins. What’s the plan? Are we going back to the old way? Or moving toward a bold new way of working? 🧵👇🏽

The research below is from the Future Forum Pulse, a survey of 10,000 knowledge workers in the U.S., U.K, France, Germany, Japan and Australia. It explores how employee expectations have shifted, and how companies can attract and retain top talent.

Flexibility matters and now ranks second only to compensation in drivers for job satisfaction.

But it’s not just about where people work. Flexibility in ~when~ and ~how~ work gets done is more important:
-93% want a flexible schedule ⏰
-76% want a flexible location 🏡

Leaders should take notice of what employees want and meet them where they are.

- 21% of knowledge workers are likely to jump to a new company in the next year
- 56% are open to looking for a new position

So how can employers win the war for talent? Here are 3️⃣ insights from the Future Forum Pulse.

1️⃣ Schedule flexibility is a default expectation for employees, and it has a big impact.

Employees with flex schedules are more productive, less stressed, and report being better connected to the people and info needed to get the job done. Leaders can set the tone from the top.

2️⃣ Digital infrastructure is a differentiator.

The office has a role to play. Over 80% say they want access to an office for in-person collaboration & team building. But digital channels have become the new HQ - connective tissue for flexible teams.

3️⃣ The pandemic has been particularly hard on groups facing systemic discrimination, but removing the flexibility stigma can help.

Our data shows working moms have carried a disproportionate burden in the U.S. #Workingmoms score lower than working dads across the board.

Black knowledge workers also have lower satisfaction scores than their white counterparts. But flexible work can help reverse these trends: Black knowledge workers are more likely to want flexible work policies and to say working remotely improves their sense of belonging.

Winning the war for talent requires accepting that there is no going back to the pre-pandemic world of work. It depends on moving forward, and reimagining work from the ground up.

For more data, click here to download the full whitepaper. futureforum.com/2021/06/17/fut…