It is clear that those who are coming into the world of work now and those who have recently started working would prefer to ditch the traditional 9-5 lifestyle in favour of working multiple jobs and prioritising extra-curricular hobbies. Research from Powwownow found that 70% of millennials would like flexible working options. This is a stark difference when compared to the over 55 age category, only 47% of whom said that they would prefer to work flexible hours. This is supported by a study from Instant Offices who found that the number of freelancers aged 26-29 has risen 66% in the past decade. The option of flexible employment is more appealing to the majority of workers with three quarters of UK employees saying that the option of flexible hours would make a job more attractive. Nick Woodward, CEO of ETZ Payments recruitment agency, said about the findings:
“People would be more inclined to pursue flexible work options but it is clear that the hesitation is not based on the availability of work as there are work opportunities for freelancers. However, fears over financial security and inconsistent payments put them off. The issues lie with the fact that those who do find work often face deeply flawed payment systems with many freelance payments being frequently late and incorrect.
Furthermore, nearly a third of UK employees said that they would prefer the option of adaptable working hours as opposed to a pay rise. The rise in flexible occupations is beneficial to everyone as in 2016, the IPSE reported that freelancers contributed £119 billion to the national economy.
Recruiters and employers would be wise to deal with these hesitations to maximise the full potential of the UK workforce. By reducing or eliminating fees by using 21st century technology, ETZ Payments offers flexible workers faster payments, making the gig economy a viable option for the critical mass of society,”
the expert concluded.
