In a study conducted by Flexa, HR and recruitment has been identified as the most flexible industry to work in.
The comprehensive analysis involved assessing companies across various sectors based on their working locations, hours, and flexible benefits, with employee feedback further validating the extent of flexibility offered.
Out of 160 companies shortlisted from 11 diverse industries, HR and Recruitment claimed the top spot, scoring an impressive 88 out of a possible 100 points, on average. Notable companies contributing to this industry-wide achievement include JBM, Boldly, and Unleashed.
Remote Work Dominance
Interestingly, over 80 percent of HR and Recruitment companies are either “remote-first” or “fully remote.” Also, remote-first roles, highly sought after by 41 percent of job seekers, are offered by only 18 percent of companies across all sectors.
Mental Health Support and parental leave
Over half (56%) of HR and Recruitment companies provide mental health support, a flexible working benefit sought by nearly one in three (32%) job seekers.
These figures emerge amidst a national mental health crisis, with more than 1.8 million people awaiting NHS mental health services.
Also, 84 percent of HR and Recruitment roles offer enhanced parental leave, a stark contrast to the 48 percent of companies overall. Women, who make up 77 percent of workers seeking flexible roles, lead the way in HR management positions.
Top 5 Most Flexible Industries:
- Recruitment & HR Tech
- Travel & Transport
- SaaS & Software
- Media & Agencies
- DeepTech, Data & AI
Top 5 Most Flexible Companies in HR and Recruitment:
- JBM: A remote-first recruitment agency with enhanced parental leave and 4-day work weeks.
- People & Transformational HR: A fully remote HR transformation business offering fertility treatment leave.
- Boldly: A subscription staffing startup providing mental health support and enhanced parental leave.
- Collins Property Recruitment: A property recruitment firm offering unlimited annual leave and the option to “work from anywhere.”
- Austin International: An international tech recruitment agency with an optional dog-friendly office.
Molly Johnson-Jones, Co-founder and CEO of Flexa, commented on the findings, emphasising that HR and Recruitment, being people-centric, leads the way in understanding and meeting the workforce’s demand for flexibility. The sector’s commitment to enhanced parental leave and mental health support reflects the industry’s understanding that happy and healthy teams are crucial for success.
Hannah Urbanek, Head of Marketing and Partnerships at JBM, expressed excitement about the industry’s recognition and emphasized their commitment to providing flexible benefits that allow their team to excel in their roles.
The study signals a paradigm shift in workplace expectations, with HR and Recruitment setting the standard for flexibility in employment. As the demand for remote work and supportive benefits continues to rise, these findings are likely to influence broader industry practices in the pursuit of attracting and retaining top talent.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
