Almost half (46%) of STEM professionals work flexible hours: more (69%) want to…
Whilst roughly equal proportions of STEM workers are working set (49%) or flexible hours (46%), far more are seeking the latter (69%) at the expense of the former (26%).
Source: Matchtech Candidate Survey (n=2,288)
The extent to which they are working set or flexible hours understandably varies by occupation, however. Amongst those with flexibility in terms of the hours pattern they work, there is a higher than all-STEM average (46%) amongst those in Project Support (60%), Engineering Technology (56%) and IT & Digital roles (50%).
When considering the desired working pattern of STEM professionals, a higher proportion of workers in all occupations – even those where half or more workers are already able to work flexible hours - want greater flexibility. This includes 80% of Engineering Technology professionals, 78% in Project Support and 76% in IT & Digital roles.
STEM Professionals: current and preferred working hours pattern
Source: Matchtech Candidate Survey (n=2,288)
Source: Matchtech Candidate Survey (n=2,288)
Employees in the UK already have a day one right to request a flexible work arrangement under the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023, passed earlier in 2024. This right can only be denied on specific statutory grounds. The recently published Employment Rights Bill seeks to further strengthen this right, however, by specifying that employers will only be able to refuse the application if ‘reasonable’ to do so – and that they will need to state the grounds upon which the application has been refused. However, there are no similar rights being introduced for non-employees, we will be watching this space to see how the laws and their implementation evolve.
Under the government’s definition of flexible working, ‘compressed hours’ are defined as working full-time hours but over fewer days (e.g. a 9-day fortnight or a four-day week).
Interestingly, the desire to work compressed hours has limited appeal amongst STEM professionals, with no more than 6% in any occupation specifying that this would be their preferred way of working.
These insights on the preferences of STEM professionals provide useful context to the growing debate and the increasing number of small-scale trials of compressing a full week’s work into four working days. Whilst feedback from trials is generally favourable, large-scale adoption has not occurred, either at a country or enterprise level.
Belgium is a case in point where, in November 2022, the government legislated and gave employees the right to compact their normal working hours into four days. By October 2023, just 0.8% of Belgian employees had transitioned to the full-time four-day work week since the 2022 Labour Deal, according to a survey conducted by the HR service company Acerta.*
* Brussels Times, Very few Belgians opt for four-day work-week - click for article
Beyond insights on the desire for flexible hours working being of crucial importance to how employers accommodate those already in work, they should also be considered from a candidate attraction perspective. STEM candidates are heavily influenced by what they can (and cannot) see about a company in terms of organisational approach and commitments.
…site Work/Life balance as a significant influence when considering a new role
…site Health & Wellbeing as a significant influence when considering a new role
And, notably, visibility on the commitments that will impact a candidate personally – notably on Work/Life balance (68%) and Health & Wellbeing (47%) - have significant influence candidate decision-making when considering a new role. As such, it is not just about demonstrating flexibility to the existing team, but also articulating to prospective workers that the organisation is willing, where possible, to accommodate flexible working hours needs and desires.
Source: Matchtech Candidate Survey (n=2,288)
Male STEM professionals: the extent to which visibility on approach and commitment influences decision-making in the recruitment process
Source: Matchtech Candidate Survey (n=2,288)
Female STEM professionals: the extent to which visibility on approach and commitment influences decision-making in the recruitment process
Source: Matchtech Candidate Survey (n=2,288)
Key takeaways and recommendations:
In line with the clear indication that STEM professionals want hirers to facilitate their work/life balance and support their health & wellbeing, it is unsurprising that such a high proportion (69%) want to work flexible hours. And whilst this flexibility may extend to enabling them, on occasion, to work compressed hours (which may include a four-day week), STEM professionals are not seeking this as their standard working pattern. Moreover, all employees in the UK now have the right to request flexible working hours.
In line with the clear indication that STEM professionals want hirers to facilitate their Work/Life balance and support their health & wellbeing, it is unsurprising that such a high proportion (69%) want to work flexible hours. And whilst this flexibility may extend to enabling them, on occasion, to work compressed hours (which may include a four-day week), STEM professionals are not seeking this as their standard working pattern. Moreover, all employees in the UK now have the right to request flexible working hours.
As such, any organisation considering a wholesale move to four-day / compressed hours working week will need to be mindful that this does not suit the vast majority of STEM professionals. Moreover, in sectors where it is more commonplace, there is a desire to move away from this working pattern. The flexibility to choose working hours is what STEM professionals want - including the ability to sometimes choose to compress their hours, rather than it being mandated.
As such, any organisation considering a wholesale move to four-day / compressed hours working week will need to be mindful that this does not suit the vast majority of STEM professionals. Moreover, in sectors where it is more commonplace, there is a desire to move away from this working pattern. The flexibility to choose working hours is what STEM professionals want - including the ability to sometimes choose to compress their hours, rather than it being mandated.