London – 17 August 2004 – Over 80% of adults employed in regular¹ work would choose more flexible hours if the option was open to them, according to latest research² commissioned by Aon Consulting, one of the leading pensions, benefits & human resources consultancy firms.
The research found that:
Over half (56%) of regular working week respondents said they favoured working extra hours from Monday to Thursday in order to take a half day on Friday. This option was more popular in Scotland, with over two in three people (67%) favouring the possibility of a longer weekend break.
More than four in ten adults (42%) surveyed (working in 9 – 5 jobs, or the equivalent) said they would prefer to work at home one day a week. People in the South East and Scotland scored higher than the national average in this category, at 45% and 47% respectively.
Regular working week respondents in Scotland (43%) and Wales & South West (40%) favoured an 8am start - working to 3pm with no break for lunch – above the national average score of 37% for this option.
Less than one in five people (18%) said that they would prefer to stick with their regular 9 to 5, five days a week option.
Commenting on the issue, Lisa Page, Senior Consultant and Actuary at Aon Consulting, said: "The most consistent message from our research is that people want the flexibility to plan their work around their personal lives. The Government’s work-life balance initiative goes some way towards addressing this."
Page added: "However, as life expectancy increases and the make-up of the population changes, employer attitudes to working life will also need to adapt. Employers who address this emerging trend will be able to better sustain a high quality workforce going forward."
Note to Editors:
1. ‘regular’ is termed as working from 9 to 5 or equivalent, five days a week.
2. Aon Consulting commissioned two all adult omnibus surveys from David Burton Associates. Each survey was conducted amongst 1000+ adults, selected at random within Great Britain. Of the 2000+ adults, 860 were full-time working adults (weighted base of 903). ICM Research interviewed this random selection of 903 full time workers in Great Britain, aged 18+ by telephone between 4 – 8 August 2004. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
About Aon Consulting
Aon Consulting is a leading human capital consultancy, helping organisations of every size to attract and keep the employees they need. We advise on all aspects of employment, including health-related insurance and risk; employee compensation and pensions; human resource strategy planning; job design and change management; and staff assessment and legal issues.
Aon Consulting is a division of Aon, the UK’s largest insurance broker and provider of risk management services, a major force in reinsurance and the UK human capital consulting market.
Aon Consulting Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
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