Flexible Work Options: Not Just For the Young

The government often touts the need for initiatives such as telework, hoteling and other flexible work options as necessary to recruit and retain the next generation of federal workers. While that is definitely a strong case to be made, a new study suggests that younger workers are not even at the heart of the independent working trend. In fact, it's the more seasoned workers who are most requesting these independent, flexible work options.

MBO Partners Independent Workforce Index found that 30 percent today's independent workforce -- or those who work at least 15 hours per week in nontraditional full- or part-time jobs -- are Baby Boomers, while only 12 percent are members of the younger generation, or Generation Y.

The majority of independent Baby Boomers work at home (50 percent) or at client sites (22 percent), and most (83 percent) have held traditional jobs before becoming independent. The average income of the independent Boomer is $77,000, the study found.

In addition, 70 percent of Boomers said they are highly satisfied with their working arrangement, compared with 58 percent for all other age groups combined. The majority of independent Boomers (84 percent) say they plan to continue as independents over the next three years, while 8 percent expect to seek a traditional job, the study found.

In many cases, job flexibility was more important to Boomers than money. For example, Boomers said flexibility (79 percent) and doing what they enjoy (77 percent) were more important to them than money.

"These more seasoned workers feel they have the skills, experience, contacts and financial resources needed to be successful," the study states. "This stands in stark contrast to many younger independents, who may lack either the skills, network and/or money to make it on their own."

The study shows that remote work options are not just for the young anymore, and it may do the government some good to consider flexibility as a key to the transfer knowledge from one generation to the next. As lawmakers consider legislation that would allow federal workers to receive partial annuities and earn additional retirement benefits proportional to the amount of time they work, telework and other remote options may be key to incentivizing retiring Baby Boomers to stay on in a full or part-time capacity.

What are your thoughts on the study? Will flexible work options be key to retaining the Boomer workforce in your agency?