We discuss the results of our Flexible Work Survey with Susan Culleton Hayes on Newstalk
Workers Ready to Take Pay Cuts for Flexibility but Irish Employers Still Aren’t Offering It
New survey exposes growing divide that’s costing businesses talent and money
Irish employers are haemorrhaging talent and spending heavily on recruitment while ignoring the one thing workers overwhelmingly want: flexibility.
A new survey from Employflex and Employmum has found that 99% of workers would stay longer in a job that offers flexible working, and 78% would accept a lower salary to get it. Yet 87% say flexible roles remain difficult to find.
The findings lay bare a fundamental mismatch in Ireland’s labour market, one that is driving up costs for businesses and pushing skilled professionals out of the workforce entirely.
“Employers are spending thousands trying to fill roles while sitting on the simplest solution,” said Karen O’Reilly, founder of Employflex and Employmum. “Workers aren’t asking for perks, they’re asking for practicality. And they’re willing to be paid less for it. How many other retention tools come with a built-in cost saving?”
The Hidden Talent Pool
The survey highlights a particular cost to the economy: experienced professionals, many of them parents and carers who are being locked out of the workforce by rigid job structures.
“We don’t have a talent shortage in Ireland. We have a flexibility shortage,” O’Reilly said.
“With childcare costs rising and many households juggling caring responsibilities, full-time office-based work is no longer viable for a significant portion of the workforce. The result is that businesses are fishing in a shrinking pool while a reservoir of skilled talent goes untapped.” O’Reilly notes
A Competitive Edge for SMEs
The data presents a clear opportunity particularly for Irish SMEs competing against multinationals for talent.
Larger corporates may offer higher salaries and benefits, but smaller firms that design roles around outcomes rather than hours can access senior talent that would otherwise be out of reach.
“This is where indigenous Irish businesses can punch above their weight,” O’Reilly noted. “Offer genuine flexibility, not lip service and you’ll attract candidates who would never consider you otherwise.”
A Warning for Employers
Employflex is urging organisations to reassess their approach before the competitive gap widens further.
“The companies still hiring like it’s 2019 are going to find themselves left behind,” O’Reilly said. “The labour market has changed. Workers have done the maths and every rigid policy is a recruitment ad for someone else.”