There is no doubt that Covid has changed the workplace environment permanently. Employers were forced to offer working-from-home and employees learned how to navigate Zoom, pet interruptions and online team-bonding exercises. Most companies have now returned to mandating at least some days in the office each week. For some businesses we are seeing assigned days where all staff need to be present in the office – for others it’s flexible and employees go into the office on the days that suit them best.

A minority of companies are resisting WFH though and are expecting staff to be back in the office full-time. There are many reasons for this – expensive real estate, a belief that culture needs to be developed face-to-face and client expectations too.

What do candidates want?

Overwhelmingly candidates want flexibility. Most prefer the mix of collaborating with their colleagues in person at least two days a week, and then working from home the rest of the time. Many have cited that they find time at home more productive without the office interruptions, and the time saved in commuting gives them more hours to work also.

Plus, there’s the money savings. In the current cost-of-living crisis one of the other reasons candidates suggest is that it is so much cheaper to work from home! No lunch costs, travel costs and in some cases reduced childcare costs too.

There is no doubt that candidates feel strongly about this too. We have a number of candidates turn down roles where WFH was not available.  At the end of the scale, candidates also generally don’t want fully remote working scenarios. Most enjoy the opportunity interact with colleagues in person and feel it enhances their career development too.

So, if your business is looking for top calibre candidates, it’s best to offer flexible, hybrid working which combines the best of both worlds.