Have you recently accepted a job that offered flexible hours and a flexible work environment that was all but that? A sad new trend that employers are cashing in on is "Fake Flexibility." In a tight job market, many organizations are trying to find the best talent by enticing them with incentives such as flexible hours or flexible workplace. But what happens when that is actually not a value of the company? Cue the era of 'Fake Flexibility."
NUMBER #1 RED FLAG
"Some companies are “catfishing” job candidates with false promises of remote work and flexible hours to lure talent in a stubbornly tight labor market. Flexibility remains a top priority among job seekers, second only to salary, according to a recent report by the UK-based recruitment firm Michael Page, which surveyed close to 70,000 workers worldwide. Last year, it was fourth on candidates’ wish lists.
Appealing to this growing preference, more companies are overstating and putting a spin on their flexible work policies, says Molly Johnson-Jones, the CEO and co-founder of Flexa Careers, a global directory of flexible-work companies. Johnson-Jones has noticed more companies offering what she calls “fake flexibility” in recent months. Most policies, Johnson-Jones explains, fall short of offering employees true flexibility: adaptable work schedules, remote or hybrid options without caveats." Learn more
MISLEADING JOB POSTING AND RECRUITING
"Flexible work arrangements remain very important to job candidates, so it is no surprise many job posts emphasize remote or hybrid work arrangements. Almost a third of hybrid employees, and almost two thirds of remote employees, expressed they would be extremely likely to look for another job if their employer decided not to offer remote work opportunities, as measured by Gallup in May 2023.
However, not every role advertising flexible work arrangements lives up to that promise. In a continually competitive labor market, some organizations are selling themselves to candidates for their flex schedules, only for new hires to discover the job is not as flexible as advertised. Flexible schedules and remote work options give employees greater autonomy over when and where they work. Many organizations have reasonable guidelines about when and how often employees need to work in the office. That being said, some rules are more restrictive than others, and not all recruiters are upfront about these rules in job interviews. Even if recruiters do not see themselves as deceptive for withholding specifics on flexible work policies, candidates may feel differently. It is critical to be honest in job descriptions and throughout the recruitment process in order to find the best fit. Employers should be transparent, focus on culture and consider their policies carefully." Learn more
THREE SIGNS THAT YOUR JOB HAS FAKE FLEXIBILITY
"Although spotting the words “flexible work” in a job description may seem promising, Johnson-Jones explains that it’s actually problematic, because the term itself is so vague. “It’s easy to be noncommittal about what kind of arrangement, exactly, you’re offering,” she recently told CNBC Make It.
To help you determine whether the flexibility a job promises is fact or fiction, Johnson-Jones suggests keeping an eye out for these three signs of fake flexibility..." Learn more
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