Are we in danger of over-estimating the positive impact of coronavirus on the workplace? Research from Timewise suggests so. Despite a seismic change in the way people are working, and 13 million people saying they want to keep working flexibly, only 22% of jobs were advertised as flexible between July and September, according to the group’s Flexible Jobs Index.

This year has undoubtedly been challenging for employees and employers alike yet the research underlines that employers are not capitalising on the enforced innovation in the workplace seen in 2020. Put simply, whilst employees may now be working more flexibly and remotely, this seismic shift is not being promoted to jobseekers. 

According to the data just 13% of marketing, media and PR jobs being advertised in the UK specifically mention home working, compared to 6.2% of jobs prior to the pandemic. 

Timewise isolated a small sub-sample of 1,000 job adverts, of all kinds, not just marketing, media & PR, which do offer home-working, and also reference the pandemic. More than half indicated these roles will revert to the office when possible, suggesting that some of the flexibility on offer to candidates right now is just short term.

A rush to return to ‘normal’

The research points to a looming missed opportunity when it comes to embracing the benefits of flexible working. It warns that a widening gap between working reality and what job vacancies offer means rising inequalities will be compounded.

Timewise CEO Emma Stewart, MBE explains: “The outlook for all jobseekers is stark but for those needing to work flexibly it is even worse. Women, carers, older workers & those with health concerns are currently at the greatest risk of becoming ‘flexcluded’ from work, as new ways of working fail to be reflected in employers’ recruitment advertising. In female dominated professions such as marketing, media & PR this presents a real problem."

Steward warns that the jobs market doesn’t match up with how people are working, who they are, nor what they want. She continued: "We are calling on employers to simply adopt the same approach for job seekers as they are currently taking with employees, and to say so in job adverts. Whether offering remote working, or part time hours, or staggered start and finish times. We have a real opportunity as we rebuild the economy to finally create a level playing field for the millions for whom flex is now both a necessity and an expectation.” 

Timewise’s annual Flexible Jobs Index research is supported by Aviva, EY, Lloyds Banking Group and the Recruitment & Employment Confederation. 

Danny Harmer, Chief People Officer at Aviva added: “The way many organisations have responded to COVID-19 has bust some of the myths that existed around home working and proved that many types of work can be done from any location. Organisations need to think about what achieves the best outcome for employees, customers and the business. Allowing people to work flexibly in terms of where, how and when they work, and articulating this in job adverts, helps organisations attract a wider range of talent. Flexible working can have a positive effect on wellbeing too, which is good for everyone.” 

Green shoots of recovery exacerbate inequality 

Earlier this month new data from LinkedIn’s Workforce Report showed the recruitment market is heading in a positive direction; between September and October hiring increased by almost 6%.

However the data revealed that the pandemic has had a negative impact on the hiring rate among women, with data showing that the percentage of women hired during the lockdown fell while the percentage of men being hired increased.

At the start of the year, 44% of those who began a new job were female, dipping to 42% in April and May. This has since risen, increasing to 47% in October.

Women over the age of 30, a group more likely to face caretaking obligations, were hardest hit. When LinkedIn analysed roles that went to people aged over 30, some 62% of the successful applicants in April were male, which means just 38% were female. This figure fell further to 37% in May before rising steadily to reach 43% in September and dipping back to 41% in October. 

While there are seemingly some green shoots of recovery, there can be no doubt that this year’s crisis has exacerbated workplace inequality. What businesses do next will be a testament to their real commitment to offering flexible working to each and every employee.