Flexible work pulse survey 2026
Over the past few months, many employers have found themselves navigating a hiring environment that feels… different.
Roles are still being filled, but often more cautiously.
Reports are showing hiring is expected to slow over the next 3 months.
Applications are arriving in high volumes, but not always with the alignment expected.
Teams are busy (sometimes stretched) and decisions around hiring feel more considered than they did even a year ago.
At the same time, expectations around flexible work haven’t gone away. If anything, they’ve become more embedded in how professionals think about their careers.
So where does that leave employers?
From the conversations we’re having every day, it’s not a question of whether flexibility matters. It’s a question of how it works — practically, sustainably, and in a way that supports performance.
A market that looks stable, but feels different
At a high level, the labour market still appears relatively stable. Unemployment remains low and participation is high.
But as we explored in our previous article, the experience of hiring tells a more nuanced story — one shaped by underemployment, increased application activity, and more cautious hiring decisions.
What’s becoming more interesting now is how they’re influencing day-to-day decisions inside organisations.
Because beneath the surface, there are subtle shifts happening in how roles are being structured, approved, and delivered.
Flexible work isn’t disappearing — but it is evolving
Flexible work is still very much part of the conversation.
Candidates continue to seek it.
Employers continue to recognise its value — particularly for attraction and retention.
But in the current environment, flexibility is being looked at through a slightly different lens.
We’re hearing more questions like:
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How do we structure this role so it works operationally?
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Can part-time work without creating gaps in the team?
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How do we balance flexibility with productivity expectations?
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What’s fair for the broader team?
In some organisations, flexibility is being maintained with confidence.
In others, it’s being reviewed more closely — not removed, but applied more deliberately.
This doesn’t suggest a step backwards. It suggests a shift from flexibility as a broad policy, to flexibility as something that needs to be designed well to work well.
The challenge: most of these decisions aren’t visible
While there’s no shortage of labour market data available, much of it focuses on what has already happened — unemployment rates, job ads, participation levels.
What it doesn’t capture particularly well is:
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How employers are thinking about hiring right now
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What trade-offs are being made internally
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Where flexibility is being supported — or quietly tightened
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How confident organisations feel offering flexible roles in the current environment
These decisions are often made in team meetings, budget discussions, or day-to-day operational planning. They rarely show up in headline statistics.
Which means there’s a gap between what the data tells us, and what employers are actually experiencing.
Introducing the Flexible Work Pulse Survey
To better understand what’s happening on the ground, we’re launching a short survey for employers: The Flexible Work Pulse.
It’s designed as a quick, real-time snapshot of how organisations are approaching flexible work in today’s environment.
The survey explores:
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Current hiring appetite
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How flexibility is being applied in practice (not just in policy)
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Whether roles are being structured differently (e.g. part-time vs full-time)
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Workforce pressures and productivity considerations
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Confidence levels when it comes to offering flexible arrangements
It takes just a few minutes to complete, and no preparation is required.
Why this matters
In a market that feels uncertain, many employers are making similar decisions — but without always having visibility of what others are doing.
That can make it harder to know:
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Whether your approach is aligned with the broader market
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Where flexibility is evolving
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What other organisations are finding works (and what doesn’t)
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How hiring strategies may need to adapt in the months ahead
By bringing these perspectives together, we can build a clearer, more current picture of how flexible work is actually playing out across organisations.
Not in theory — but in practice.
What we’ll do with the insights
All responses will be aggregated and anonymised.
We’ll use the findings to create a simple market snapshot, highlighting:
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Key patterns we’re seeing across employers
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Areas where confidence is strong
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Areas where organisations are feeling more cautious
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Emerging trends in how flexible roles are being structured
We’ll share these insights back with participants, so you can see how your experience compares with others navigating similar challenges.
If flexible work is something you’re currently navigating — whether confidently or cautiously — your perspective will help shape a more accurate view of where things are heading.
The survey is short, practical, and designed with busy teams in mind.