#FlexibleIs

What does flexible working mean to you?

The pandemic drove the greatest workplace change in a generation, prompting people to re-evaluate how, where and why they work. For those fortunate to be able to work from home, they soon realised the advantages of flexible working. For me personally, I’ve been able to spend more time with my family as I no longer have to do a long commute to the office each day. For friends and colleagues, flexible working means they can be at the school gates, walk their dog during their lunch break, and support elderly relatives.

But the impact isn’t limited to a professional’s well-being or productivity levels. We know the significant progress many businesses have made in recent years when it comes to flexible working, and for industries where this has been possible, the increased normalisation of flexible working has been a huge step forward for gender equality. 

Unfortunately, however, there are still many misconceptions and biases around what flexible working is which are holding people back at work, especially women. Our research highlights that over half of women across the globe say they have either left their job, or considered leaving their job, due to a lack of flexibility. LinkedIn’s data also shows that women are 24% more likely to apply for remote roles, underscoring the importance of flexibility in making workplaces equitable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T1Xhb_nN-k

Through our campaign - #FlexibleIs - we want to help raise awareness of the importance of flexibility, encouraging more employers to offer it, and inspiring more people to take advantage of it. This is part of our commitment to create a more equitable world of work for women, and follows our global partnership with International Women’s Day and sponsorship of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.  

Directed by Anne Hollowday, the film showcases inspirational stories from people across the globe, offering a glimpse into just how crucial flexibility is to them, and encourages open and honest conversations about the pressures working women face every day. 

By joining the conversation, together we can all tackle this stigma, normalise flexible working and make ‘work’ work for women. Share your story today using #FlexibleIs.