Customized Workplace Flexibility and Perks: Why Employers Should Acknowledge Individual Needs

Employers need to understand that flexibility and perks at work are not one-size-fits-all, according to KPMG’s Vice Chair of Talent and Culture Sandy Torchia. With the renegotiation of the employee-employer contract, KPMG urges that flexibility can mean many different things to many people. Employees are demanding more flexibility, including a four-day workweek, hybrid work, and remote work. According to KPMG’s Talent Survey, 82% of employees are interested in a 10-hour, four-day workweek, with nearly half finding it highly appealing. While the four-day workweek won’t work for every firm or person, studies have shown that workers are more productive when they have time to rest. Torchia reminds companies that career paths are different nowadays, and the baseline understanding of technology and data can enable employees to prepare themselves to do something different. Additionally, the survey showed that millennials are more likely to care about perks, while Gen Zers prioritize online courses and mental well-being. While perks like free lunches and gym reimbursements might have gotten workers to return to the office, the experience that employees have when they’re in the office is what kept them coming back, Torchia said.