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A new report showed that remote working is giving employees a stronger reason to up and move, with employers who offer this option seen to have an upper hand in winning the talent war.
Almost half, or 45 per cent of Australian workers surveyed either want to relocate within the country or are already in the process of doing so, new research from payroll and HR services company ADP showed.
Additionally, 40 per cent of respondents in the People at Work: A Global Workforce View survey revealed they were planning or in the process of moving overseas.
Moreover, the study found that men (55 per cent) were more inclined to relocate compared to women (36 per cent).
Interestingly, people who worked from home (58 per cent) were almost three times more likely to want a sea or tree change, compared to those who didn’t work from home at 20 per cent — indicating that exposure to remote work was a significant factor in shaping people’s motivation to relocate.
Kylie Baullo, managing director at ADP, stated the survey showed that remote working has given employees new opportunities to relocate.
“The last few years have given some employees the confidence that remote work is viable for them. This has opened up a plethora of opportunities to relocate and pursue a better quality of life, affordable housing, and new job opportunities,” she explained.
With the pandemic shifting workers’ expectations, Ms Baullo highlighted the “increased need” for employers to offer a better work/life balance in order to “retain and attract top talent”.
Across the age groups, over half, or 54 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds and nearly two-thirds stated that they would consider quitting if forced to go back to the office full time.
This percentage scales higher among 25 to 34-year-olds, out of which 64 per cent stated they would turn their back on their employer if mandated to report on-site for the entire work week, with the report highlighting the strong correlation between the desire to relocate and the demand for flexible working models amongst the younger age bracket.
Notably, 46 per cent of the 45 to 54 age bracket and only 27 per cent of those aged 55 and over reported a similar choice when facing the same scenario.
“The high cost of living in major cities has made rural and regional areas more appealing, especially to younger workers,” Mrs Baullo commented.
But with office occupancy now at its highest level since the pandemic began in the country, partially thanks to less-accommodating work-from-home policies, ADP suggested employers be “best prepared for a hybrid workplace”.
“Businesses should look to offer remote work options. With the potential for multiple employees moving at any given time, and the variety of payment conditions that can occur in different locations — both domestically and overseas, working with a payroll expert to manage smooth transitions is important,” Mrs Baullo stated.
With flexible working “here to stay,” Mrs Baullo said that businesses must “embrace and plan for a dispersed workforce”.
“This dispersed workforce creates a win-win for employees and employers. Employers can access a greater talent pool in opening up new geographies to source grassroots talent from,” says Mrs Baullo.
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