More than half (55 per cent) of working parents in the UK would think about leaving their current role if they found another with better flexibility, a study has found.
The research by Working Families and SF Recruitment, which polled 992 parents in August this year, found that only a third (31 per cent) would apply for a role that did not list flexible working options in the advert.
The majority of both working parents (82 per cent) and unemployed parents (90 per cent), meanwhile, said they would apply for a job that listed flexible working options in the advert.
Melissa Jamieson, chief executive of Timewise, said employers could attract more talent if they advertised their flexible options, as it is popular among all candidates – not just parents.
“Flexible hiring is a critical attraction tool [and] employers need to shift their mindset to understand that flexible working is often a candidate’s first thought, not their last,” said Jamieson, adding that a better option would be to design roles that have flexibility so employers can tap into a “larger and more diverse” talent pool.
The study found that flexibility was a top priority for two-thirds (66 per cent) of working parents, and almost a third (30 per cent) said they worked in roles below their skill level for greater flexibility.
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