Intelligent CXO Issue 16 | Page 20

EDITOR ’ S QUESTION

Workers are calling for more from their employers to help them shift from surviving to thriving , prioritising flexibility along with factors such as trust , purpose and well-being , according to new research from Manpower Group and Thrive .

The research , part of Manpower Group ' s What Workers Want series , is based on a survey of more than 5,000 workers across five countries and reveals that almost all workers ( 93 %) now view flexibility as important .
However , the nature of that flexibility varies . Workers from all backgrounds are now asking for flexibility on their own terms , with 45 % wanting to choose their own start and end times and 18 % willing to reduce pay to work a four-day week to achieve better balance .
The results also point to a changing role for leaders as trust and shared values are increasingly significant – with workers willing to vote with their feet if they do not feel adequately supported .
“ A lasting legacy of the pandemic will be flexibility , but it ’ s not one-size-fits-all . Workers want more choice , autonomy and consideration for their well-being ,” said Jonas Prising , Chairman and CEO , Manpower Group . “ We ’ re seeing the highest talent shortages in 16 years , giving workers at almost every level and in every sector the upper hand . Employers have no choice but to pay attention . The challenge for leaders will be to listen , adapt and think differently about how to approach flexibility , not just flexible working .”
Manpower Group partnered with Thrive to identify immediate actions that employers can take to support employee well-being . By adopting practices like entry interviews , creating a culture of compassionate directness and encouraging employees to practice microsteps , companies can create long-lasting cultural change .
“ The disruptions of the past two years have forced us to consider what we really value and we have a once-in-generation opportunity to rethink the way we work and live ,” said Arianna Huffington , Founder and CEO , Thrive .
" We were in the middle of a global epidemic of stress and burnout even before COVID-19 . Then the pandemic hit and employee well-being and resilience shot to the top of the agenda for companies all over the world . At Thrive , we work with companies who realise that their most important resource is their people . They ’ re seeing the direct connection between the longterm health of their bottom line and the health and well-being of their employees .”
Trust is important for a thriving workforce , according to the survey . Trust in colleagues was rated second only to fair pay and safe working conditions by workers ( 79 %), while trust in leaders was rated highly by more than twothirds ( 71 %). Additionally , people want to work for companies that share their values and beliefs , with 70 % seeking meaning in their daily work .
We asked three experts about the employee experience , trust and how the four-day workweek could be adopted by organisations .

FOLLOWING THE UK ’ S RECENT TRIAL SHIFTS OF THE FOUR-DAY WEEK , HOW COULD YOU SEE THIS BEING ADOPTED BY ORGANISATIONS ?

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