Despite workers wanting flexibility over where they work, Tiger Recruitment research shows that 7 in 10 employees are still in the dark about their employer’s long-term remote working plans. The recruitment firm warns that by delaying a decision, employers could be jeopardising their chances of attracting and retaining talent.

According to a survey *of more than 1,000 workers, being able to work more flexibly is the biggest positive to come out of the pandemic. Jobseekers say it is their number two priority in a new role, second only to salary. Tiger’s research also shows that employees who are satisfied with their flexible working options are more likely to stay in their job. Eight in ten (81%) people who have no plans to jump ship say they are happy with the flexible working offered by their employer – versus only six in ten (64%) who intend to move on.

However, less than a third of workers say their company has announced permanent changes to its remote working policy in light of Covid-19. This is an 8% improvement on last year but means that 70% of people still don’t know what their employer’s long-term plans are. Of those, more than one in ten (13%) fear that things will simply go back to how they were before the pandemic. As a result, 4 in 10 (44%) say they plan to leave their role within the next 12 months.

Commenting on the findings, Tiger Recruitment CEO David Morel said, “For jobseekers and employees, flexible working is the holy grail. However, many companies have yet to decide what it looks like for their business in the long term.

“I suspect that many are waiting to see what their competitors are doing, but by dragging their heels, they’re giving staff a reason to search for a role that offers them greater certainty. They’re also making themselves less attractive to candidates, reducing the already limited talent pool. Ultimately, people want reassurance from their employer that flexible working is not just a pandemic fix but part of their future workplace strategy.”

*survey by Tiger