Research from Personio reveals that only 45% of workers feel they have the flexibility to work at times they prefer, showing a gap between employee expectations and company practices. The report also showed that only 57% are satisfied with their work-life balance, and a third believe their employers have made “false promises” about flexible work options.
According to the survey, 74% said they consulted employees on changes to hybrid work policies. However, only 45% of workers agreed, showing a disconnect between leadership and staff on these decisions.
Clare Kelliher, a professor at Cranfield School of Management, highlighted that although recent discussions have focused on hybrid work locations, many employees, especially those who cannot work remotely, are still looking for more flexibility in their work hours.
Despite these findings, many employees remain resistant to returning to the office. More than half of HR leaders noted staff’s reluctance to give up location flexibility, with 39% of workers saying they would quit if forced to work in the office more than three days a week. If we look at age groups, among 16-—to 24-year-olds, this figure has risen to 49%.
Experts like Gemma Dale from Liverpool John Moores University suggest that employers should explore underutilized forms of time flexibility, such as compressed work weeks or non-linear schedules, to support employees’ work-life balance.