With work from anywhere (WFA) schemes gaining in popularity over the past few years, what better time to take advantage than as we head into the cold, miserable winter months in the UK?

From jetting off to follow the winter sun or heading to a cosy cabin nestled in the snowy mountains, job seekers are increasingly looking for ways to escape the mundane and inject a little joy into their work schedules.

And according to a Flexa report, ‘it’s clear that the popularity of WFA is far from restricted to the summer months’, with 41% of jobseekers using the search filter in November 2023.

Tui is named as one of the companies that has successfully attracted top talent by offering up to 30 days WFA a year and shares, ‘TUI WORKWIDE is also used in many different ways: with colleagues extending time abroad after a holiday or business trip, visiting and supporting relatives, or just working from their favourite destinations.’

The demand for fully remote roles has also risen by 37%, as per the Flexa Flexible Working Report 2023-2024, which analysed more than 3 million job searches over a period of 22 months.

Exploring varying working hours, family-friendly benefits like additional leave, and mental health support with flex also featured on the wishlists of those searching on the platform. Flexa co-founder Molly Johnson-Jones said: “Continuing to challenge preconceptions about who flexibility is ‘for’ will be essential in order to empower as many workers as possible to choose how they balance work and life, and ultimately to ensure the future of flexible work for all.”

Employers also now need to take into consideration the Flexible Working Bill that took effect on April 6, 2024, with all employees now having the right to request flexible working from their first day of employment, and the option of 2 requests a year. They no longer need to explain how flexible working will affect their employer – making it easier to raise the request.

Flexible working has never been so diverse in the balance it can bring to employee’s lives – and it’s looking likely that the demand for work-life balance will continue to grow as more companies embrace the technology that allows them to accommodate this.

How technology supports flexibility

Since the Covid pandemic when companies were essentially ‘forced’ to embrace the technology that supports a remote workforce, flexible working has grown from strength to strength.

Although those times are, (thankfully) firmly behind us, the appetite for using the technology that enables us to have work-life balance is not – in fact, it’s still growing as more and more traditionally office-based jobs identify new ways of working. From the rapid development of AI to increasingly sophisticated cloud-based platforms, work that previously had no way of flexing is now opening up to allow the very best of both worlds – blending exciting careers with personal goals and growth.

And here at HBT Communications, we can help your business do just that. We’re a dedicated IT and Telecoms company, established in 1988 that enables a wide range of employee-focused companies to use the latest technology to make their business more effective and efficient. We’re proud to be an independent provider that works with a range of industry leading partners to provide our customers with tailored solutions that can boost their flexibility and attract top talent.

Testimonial

HBT’s cloud solution has transformed the way we work. I am currently working from Thailand and I can make and receive calls as If I was in the office, it’s seamless.

The app on the mobile enables me to call customers in the UK free of charge and they can call me directly for any queries or issues.

Luke Kay – Currant Web

If you’d like to find out more about how we can enhance your employee’s flexibility, please contact us for a chat on hello@hbtcommunications.com or call 02476 867400.