Gone are the days when job applicants most valued salary and employee benefits. Now people are looking for a good work/life balance and flexible working when considering a new job role.
Accountancy giant, PwC, has launched a Flexible Talent Network programme, which enables new recruits to choose the hours they work.
The general premise behind the initiative is that when someone applies for a job, they can specify their preferred work pattern. This may be a shorter working week or working only a few months a year. PwC will then match them to relevant projects.
The aim is to recruit a diverse and skilled workforce. Laura Hinton, Chief People Officer at PwC, affirmed ‘People assume that to work at a big firm they need to follow traditional working patterns – we want to make it clear that this isn’t the case. In order to recruit the best people, we recognise that we need to offer greater flexibility, different working options …’
She continues ‘We already encourage everyday flexibility for our people in how and where they work, but our Flexible Talent Network takes flexible working to a new level, allowing people to choose exactly how they want to work throughout the year.’
It has already proven a popular scheme with over 2000 people having registered in the past two weeks.
Understanding the value of flexible working
PwC recognises that employees want to work flexibly to accommodate other priorities. Some may need flexibility to juggle care commitments; others may wish to supplement their income from their own business. Some may need paid work around significant volunteering work and others may wish to travel.
But flexible working arrangements also offer a wide array of benefits for employers. It can help attract a diverse workforce, reduce absenteeism and retain key staff who would be forced to leave without any flexibility. It can also help employers cut costs and increase employee productivity and engagement. An Employment Law specialist will be able to help you with understanding the best approach for you.
