Well, it is out there – the latest Softchoice survey has just released its findings and they are going to cause many organizations to stand on their heads. The workplace as we know it is changing. This is definitely not a surprise yet some of the findings may make us sit up and take more notice about how we run our businesses.

The findings that most caught my eye are:

• 74% of North American employees will jump ship if they find an employer who will allow them to work remotely more often
• 70% of North American employees will leave in favour of a position that offers increased flexibility

Due to the changes in lifestyle caused by single family units and a new look at work as in “we work to live” as opposed to “we live to work” means adjustments are on the horizon. While many seniors (Baby Boomers and Traditionalists) are working many are squeezed by looking after older parents and even 40 year old children moving back home due to marriage break down and/or job loss.

Add to this those with young children at home (Generation X who are having families later and even Millennials/Gen Y who may be starting families now) and there is more and more need for employers to adjust how they work with their employees. In worrying about their children we often end up with parents whose mind is in two places at once – and when this is the case it is often the work mind that loses to the home mind.

Now, here is the problem. How do employers go from the present way of working to offering people the opportunity to work from home? And more importantly, should they allow employees to work from home?

In my mind it depends on the type of business you are running. If you have a restaurant (or any other face-to-face retail business) it will be very difficult to have staff work remotely, however, in this case flexibility in the working hours may be the answer.

The reality as I see it – ASK, it is amazing how employees consider the needs of the workplace as well as their own needs when they are brought into the equation!