{
  "id": 4611442,
  "title": "Flexible work could keep experienced workers on the job",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/flexible-work-could-keep-experienced-workers-on-the-job",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-31T09:13:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/business/jobs/2026-08-31-flexible-work-could-keep-experienced-workers-on-the-job/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Research from the International Workplace Group (IWG) indicates that flexible and hybrid working arrangements can assist companies in retaining part-time employees, motivating them to work additional hours, and helping older workers maintain employment longer. Part-time employment is increasing in South Africa, with Statistics South Africa reporting a 50,000 increase in part-time jobs during the third quarter of 2025, bringing the total from 1.094 million in June to 1.144 million in September.\n\nAccording to IWG, about 50% of older workers surveyed expressed that part-time work allowed them to postpone retirement, while the group suggested that flexible work could also attract retired individuals back into the workforce. Nearly two-thirds of part-time employees surveyed by IWG said they would consider increasing their hours if they had more flexible working conditions. Conversely, four-fifths indicated they would leave the workforce entirely if required to commute daily to a city-centre office. Additionally, 49% would consider leaving employment if denied flexible working arrangements. Rising commuting costs were also a concern, with 44% of existing part-time workers stating that increasing commuting costs made it harder to justify staying in work financially.\n\nIWG founder and CEO Mark Dixon highlighted that high commuting costs combined with limited flexibility pose challenges for part-time workers. He noted that by offering greater flexibility in how and where work is done, businesses can retain valuable team members and attract talented individuals back into the workforce. Retaining part-time workers could also positively impact productivity. Research by IESE Business School in Barcelona, cited by IWG, found that a 10 percentage-point increase in part-time employees led to an average 2% productivity increase, with the figure reaching 3.3% in professional, scientific, and technical sectors.\n\nIWG emphasized that employees with more control over their schedules and work-life balance tend to be less stressed, more engaged, creative, and efficient. Their research on hybrid working revealed that three-quarters of employees in this arrangement reported increased productivity, with a similar proportion expressing greater motivation. Flexible working could also provide companies with access to a broader pool of potential employees. The report cited French company Convers Télémarketing, which introduced part-time flexible working to attract and retain women aged 25 to 40 with children. This move increased gender diversity, reduced staff turnover to 7%, and boosted revenue by 30%. Dixon stated that flexible working could help remove barriers for individuals who struggle to accommodate a traditional nine-to-five, on-site work environment. He emphasized that the best business leaders recognize that flexible working remains crucial in fostering more equitable and diverse workforces.",
  "summary": "Part-time and hybrid working could help companies retain older and other part-time employees for longer, while almost two-thirds of part-time workers say greater flexibility could encourage them to work more hours.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}