At times, keeping the modern IT professional sufficiently engaged can be difficult. The era of the heads-down programmer, stuck in their code, seems to be long past. Current technology employees want to work in a vibrant environment offering them the flexibility to build a career while properly balancing their work and personal lives.

Fostering a company culture that gives your staff this kind of latitude also provides a way to boost productivity in your office. Let’s take a closer look at why today’s tech workers want flexibility in their careers and how that ultimately benefits your company.

A Mobile and Flexible IT Workforce is a Productive Workforce

With the growth of mobile technology and Cloud-based services giving employees access to their work no matter the time or their location, many companies now permit telecommuting for a few days each week. A recent study of technology professionals from PricewaterhouseCooper noted a correlation between respondents happy with their work-life balance and being able to work from home. Telecommuters also tended to report a higher job satisfaction rating.

Justin Sturrock, a manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, commented on the study’s findings. “Greater independence leads to higher employee satisfaction and engagement. This has a strong correlation to productivity and turnover and goes to the heart of the ‘talent’ challenge facing many organizations,” said Sturrock.

Company Culture and Values now Important to Tech Employees

A shift in the needs and desires of the IT employee is now obvious. In the past, they were more concerned about their salary and benefits package along with job security. Now, company culture and values combined with flexibility are paramount in their minds. Employers are noticing this change, as the PWC survey reported 67 percent of executives expect this shift to continue over the next five years.

This places the onus on companies still stuck in older, more restrictive policies to change their office culture or run the risk of failing to attract and retain the top talent in the industry. Giving employees a measure of independence and autonomy while trusting them to maintain – or even improve – their productivity levels is the smart call.

With more employees now expecting flexibility in their hours and work location, IT companies must evolve or simply get left behind.

When you need additional insights in building a top notch technology team, talk to industry experts at MindFinders. As one of the leading IT staffing agencies in Washington DC, we offer great candidates able to add value to your business. Schedule some time with us as soon as possible.

Written by Tim Booker, President and CEO of MindFinders, with over 20 years of industry experience.