Most of us have long known that life-work balance issues are a priority for today's workers, especially the Millennials; However, recently, Harris Interactive conducted a study for Mom Corps that confirmed the continuing importance of flexibility.

Mom Corps is a job board and career development site. Their findings offer insights and trended data, reinforcing the significance of workplace flexibility as a strategy that benefits both employees and their organizations.

Nearly three-quarters of working adults polled (73 percent) agreed that flexibility is one of the most important factors they consider when looking for a new job or deciding what company to work for. This score represents a more than 10 percentage point increase from 2012 (61 percent).

Many employers already understand the value of helping their workers balance life and work. More than two thirds (68 percent) of working adults agree that their company would be willing to accommodate them if they requested a flexible work schedule, due to reasons like family care, personal work preferences, health issues, etc.

When asked if they would be willing to give up a portion of their salary for more flexibility at work, 45 percent of the working adults surveyed said they would be willing to relinquish at least some portion of their salary.

While an increase in the availability of flexible work options is a positive development, employees still report feeling limited in their personal ability to gain or use flexible work options.  Almost half (47 percent) of working adults agreed that asking for flexible work options hurts their chances of advancing in their job.

Almost 40 percent agreed that they have considered leaving or have left a job because it wasn't flexible enough. However, the most telling nearly four in ten working professionals surveyed have left or have considered leaving a job for greater levels of flexibility".

Although this study was conducted with US employees, workplaces throughout the globe are undergoing a change from only traditional work hours and workspaces to an acceptance of a wider variety options. In the future, offer this this wider variety will not be optional. Millennials will expect employers to offer this flexibility without exacting a price.

© Copyright 1998-2013 by The Herman Group of Companies, Inc., all rights reserved.  From 'The Herman Trend Alert,' by Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurist. (800) 227-3566 or www.hermangroup.com

The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group of Companies, Inc. Reprinted with permission.