Why Employers Should Adopt Schedule Flexibility

Understanding young workers’ preference for flexible schedules is crucial for employers to remain competitive in attracting and retaining top talent, as outlined in results from Shiftboard’s study.

“With older generations gradually leaving the workforce, employers and managers need to adapt their policies and work culture to accommodate workers’ preferences for flexible scheduling,” says Sterling Wilson, president and CEO of Shiftboard. “By doing so, they can ensure better job satisfaction, higher employee retention, and a more engaged workforce.”

Over half of Millennials (51%) and Gen Z (55%) value having control over their work schedule, specifically being able to change hours on short notice. In contrast, the survey revealed that Gen X (42%) and Baby Boomers (37%) didn’t share this priority.

“Managers used to the preferences of older generations might find these statistics surprising,” says Wilson. “Some generations focus on earning potential while others prioritize flexibility in their schedules. A one-size-fits-all management strategy won’t be effective for handling these diverse generations. These findings tell us that there’s a totally different workforce emerging.”

From Yahoo! Finance:

• Gen Z (47%) and Millennials (39%) want to have the ability to change their hours on short notice—whether it’s working more, less, or canceling a shift.
• A higher percentage of Gen Z (38%) and Millennials (33%) value being able to exchange overtime hours for additional time off; this is seen as less important to older workers.
• The pandemic also changed employer-employee relations, with 73% of Gen Z and 71% of Millennials stating that pandemic-fueled labor shortages motivated their employer to improve their job satisfaction, compared to 60% of Gen X and 57% of Baby Boomers.
• A majority of respondents (75%) stated that work-life balance is necessary for job satisfaction, and an additional 20% indicated it’s important.
• Furthermore, 82% of workers reported that their work schedule affects their ability to be present for their families, highlighting the importance of schedules for work-life balance.
• Lastly, union workers prioritize shift choice (87%) and shift trading (84%) more than non-union workers, suggesting the importance of providing union workers with flexible scheduling options to improve retention rates.