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Justin Small, CEO and Founder of Future Strategy Club, comments on the nation’s sentiments towards work.
After a year of working from home, many companies have now begun the gradual process of re-opening their offices. In fact, 53% of office workers in the UK travelled to their place of employment at least once last week, despite government guidance to still work from home where possible. This data reveals that many employers are now keen for desk-based workers to return to the office and resume post-pandemic work.
Despite this drastic spike in employees heading back into the office, it is important to recognise how COVID-19 has now reshaped the future of work. Today, many companies are now looking towards implementing hybrid working models permanently to give employees more agility, flexibility and freedom. This is to meet employee demands, with 67% of UK workers now wanting a hybrid model of work when returning to the office post-pandemic to save time and money on their commute and improve their work-life balance.
With the pandemic revolutionising the way we work; many employees are now looking towards establishing themselves outside the norms of the traditional workplace. To gain insight, Future Strategy Club a collective of hand-picked agency & consultancy talent – commissioned unique research into the nation’s sentiments towards work. Key takeaways from the data show that:
- 25% of 18–34-year-olds and 19% 35–54-year-olds are now considering freelancing as a permanent career option
- 58% of Brits agree that hybrid working will be the most popular method of working
- 43% of Brits agree that flexible hours are the most important thing when choosing a job
- 60% of Brits believe the workplace of the future will have to change drastically for the better to avoid losing its best talent to freelancing and consulting
Freelancing comes with a continuous stream of benefits. To name a few; flexibility, higher job satisfaction, better income, variety and ultimately, becoming your boss. This is why many individuals, especially high-level talent, have begun to look towards this. In fact, more people now than ever before want to begin freelancing. Future Strategy Club recognises that freelance work gives employees back control, allowing them the ability to shape what they want their career to look like. Future Strategy Club champion and support all freelancers, at every stage of their career, ensuring equal pay and opportunities for every freelance member.
Justin Small, CEO and Founder of Future Strategy Club, discusses comments on the nation’s sentiments towards work:
“Lockdown and the way that we see work has changed immeasurably and surprisingly quickly throughout the course into 2021. Working from home and flexible working was already growing in popularity but the past year has put that growth on steroids. COVID showed all the worse parts of the traditional working structure so it is not surprising so many people have wanted to make changes to their environments permanently.
Companies need to be careful to accommodate their employees’ needs and concerns otherwise, talented individuals will be drawn towards going it alone or jumping ship, causing repercussions for businesses that may be on the edge of surviving and going under. If people are looking to go freelance, self-employed or become a full-time consultant, consultancy agencies are a great alternative to going it alone straight away. It wouldn’t be surprising if 2021 becomes the year of the mass exodus from the 9-5 and towards self-employment.”
