I'm looking for advice on how to pursue a new job discreetly, particularly when the interview process requires multiple rounds and my current workplace has very little flexibility. I've been with my current employer for ten years. I started here before I even graduated from college, and I've grown tremendously. It's a well-regarded organization with a prestigious name, and I genuinely believe they care about their people.
Every leader must recognize that we lead people, not job titles. The people who make up our organizations carry responsibilities far beyond their job descriptions, such as caring for children, managing health needs, supporting aging parents, handling school schedules and navigating everyday challenges. When CEOs understand that we are leading human beings, flexibility becomes one of the most powerful tools we have.
For some people, an ideal job would include more flexibility, such as working a shorter week or skipping the commute altogether. Recent research shows that four-day workweeks can improve employee well-being, satisfaction and retention. A FlexJobs study also found that 61% of workers would be more loyal if offered a four-day workweek, and 68% said the same about remote work.
As more companies demand employees spend more days in their workplaces each week, some critics claim that tightening return to office (RTO) rulesin partaim to provoke resignations from employees unwilling to give up their remote or hybrid work arrangements. Reinforced RTO mandates, especially by large companies like Amazon and Starbucks, sparked accusations that management's tighter in-office requirements are a cover for pushing flexibility-loving workers to quit.
While this policy has been formulated to revitalise the economy, business leaders and HR teams have to consider how it will be implemented and its impact on employees. By increasing the number of working days in the office, businesses may achieve higher productivity and efficiency initially, but it can lead to increased stress and burnout among employees.
Summer Fridays were once seen as a perk that allowed employees some flexibility during the summer months... This has just lost a lot of relevance today. And there's a lot more intentionality around what employees are doing when they're actually in the workplace, primarily Tuesdays through Thursdays.
