The EY 2021 Work Reimagined Employee Survey finds that 93% of respondents are likely to stay with their organization for the next 12 months or more — that is, if they have control on where and when they work. On the contrary, more than half (54%) say they would leave their company if current flexibility in schedule and work location is not extended post-pandemic. The EY survey finds 9 out of 10 employees favour flexibility. Even when offered the option of having top-notch, on-site amenities at an assigned office, 67% would still prefer to control where and when they work, with respondents being 1.4 times more likely to opt for having control over working hours. 

Currently, three-quarters of respondents rate job satisfaction at least a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. And a further 48% of employees believe their company culture has improved since the beginning of the pandemic, with the utilities sector showing the highest positive change and those in transportation and healthcare rating among the lowest. Part of that culture shift is the expectation that employers be transparent, take a stand and actively enable health and safety. In fact, nearly two-thirds expect their company to require vaccinations of all employees before returning to physical workspaces.