The second chapter which also surveyed 2,800 college students and young professionals in their 20s across 14 countries looked at the seriousness of the next-generation workforce’s demand to work remotely with flexibility over how they access information. The desire by young professionals and college students to use social media, mobile devices, and the internet more freely in the workplace is strong enough to influence their future job choice, sometimes more than salary does.
Some key findings from the 2nd chapter include:
• The importance of devices and the information they carry rivals the importance of money. Half of college students and young employees (49%) said they would rather lose their wallet or purse than their smartphone or mobile device.
• The days of one device are over. More than three of every four employees (77%) have multiple devices, such as a laptop and a smartphone or multiple phones and computers. One in three employees globally (33%) uses at least three devices for work.
• Seven of 10 college students (70%) believe it is unnecessary to be in the office regularly, with the exception of an important meeting– in fact, one in four feel their productivity would increase if they were allowed to work from home or remotely. The global figures were mirrored by employees as well, with 69% believing office attendance was unnecessary on a regular basis. In contrast, the 2010 report showed that three of five (60%) employees (of all ages) believed it was unnecessary to be confined to offices.
• One of three college students and young employees under the age of 30 (33%) said that they would prioritise social media freedom, device flexibility, and work mobility over salary in accepting a job offer, indicating that the expectations and priorities of the next generation of the world’s workforce is not primarily tied to money.
• More than half of college students globally (56%) said that if they encountered a company that banned access to social media, they would either not accept a job from it or would join and find a way to circumvent corporate policy.
• Three out of five students globally (60%) feel that once they begin working, it will be their right – more than a privilege – to be able to work remotely with a flexible schedule.
