The most recent Quarterly Versatile Working Index, which analysed job seekers’ priorities over the past three months, has recorded large demand for roles that provide psychological well being help, and file numbers of employees expressing a choice for “Work From Wherever” schemes.

The Index analyses information from Flexa: the platform the place each versatile firm will get found. This newest evaluation pooled information insights from over 350,000 job searches, in addition to preferences expressed by over 8,000 jobseekers as to the place, when and the way they need to work between April and June 2023.

A 3rd of employees need psychological well being help

Demand for office psychological well being help was constantly excessive over the past quarter, with a mean of virtually 1 in 3 employees expressing a choice for corporations that provide psychological well being help between April and June 2023. This marks a 20% improve in demand for psychological well being help since July 2022, when only a quarter of all job seekers expressed a choice for corporations that provided psychological well being help to staff.

Demand for office psychological well being help is even larger amongst disabled employees. Because the begin of the yr, the variety of disabled employees preferring to work for corporations which supply psychological well being help has risen by 7%: up from 55% of all disabled employees in July final yr to 59% of all disabled employees final quarter. This implies disabled employees are virtually twice as more likely to search out corporations that provide psychological well being help in comparison with non-disabled employees.

The findings come as newest ONS figures present that the variety of people who find themselves out of labor as a consequence of long-term illness is at a file excessive. Separate analysis discovered {that a} psychological well being concern is the commonest motive behind this pattern.

Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO and co-founder of Flexa, feedback: “Every year, 1 in 4 folks will expertise psychological well being points. The silver lining within the information we’ve collected at Flexa is that employees evidently really feel more and more capable of assert their want for help. Job seekers know that, even when they’re not struggling now, they may want psychological healthcare sooner or later – and shall be finest protected if they’re working for employers who genuinely prioritise staff’ wellbeing. Employers who make sturdy psychological well being help accessible to all employees year-round – employers like Silverrail, hedgehog lab and Learnerbly – have one thing value shouting about. They’ve precisely what staff are in search of proper now.

“Office psychological well being help needs to be a precedence for all corporations seeking to nurture inclusive cultures. Our information additionally highlights the significance of psychological well being help in relation to creating accessible workplaces for disabled candidates. The numbers converse for themselves, and we are able to’t afford to disregard them. Nearly 6 in 10 disabled employees need roles that provide psychological well being help.”

Seasonal working developments stronger than ever as summer time begins

A resurgence within the variety of employees seeking to work from totally different areas, kick-started by hotter spring months, has continued with the onset of summer time. Particularly, “Work From Wherever” (WFA) schemes – whereby staff can spend a time period working outdoors their standard jurisdiction – have soared in recognition.

The variety of job seekers expressing a choice for corporations that provide WFA schemes rose 10% between April and June 2023, when a colossal 88% of all employees most well-liked WFA jobs: the very best quantity recorded by the Index because it launched in July 2022. The variety of employees actively trying to find WFA roles skyrocketed by 120% between April and June 2023, when a 3rd of all job hunters had been trying to find WFA schemes.

Demand for “totally distant” roles – whereby there isn’t a obligation for employees to come back into an workplace – additionally grew month-on-month final quarter. By June 2023, an enormous 59% of all employees expressed a choice for totally distant roles, up by 13% from April this yr.

The seasonality behind demand for versatile working areas applies to working hours, too. During the last three months, the variety of job seekers expressing a choice for “summer time hours” rose by 9% – up from 22% of all employees in April to virtually 1 / 4 of all employees in June 2023 – as employees look to profit from longer and hotter evenings.

Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO and co-founder of Flexa, feedback: “We noticed totally distant roles fall out of favour with job seekers final autumn, with demand dropping to an all-time low in December. The reversal of this pattern, which started in spring and has continued into the summer time, highlights the seasonality behind demand for various working areas.

“Corporations that provide totally distant work – like Form3 – and Work From Wherever Schemes – like Fika and Huel – are the main target of candidates’ consideration proper now. It’s not exhausting to think about why. This type of flexibility permits staff to journey for prolonged intervals with out having to make use of up annual go away or take a lower in pay – a very interesting prospect through the hotter months.”